Antisense modulation of daxx expression

ABSTRACT

Antisense compounds, compositions and methods are provided for modulating the expression of daxx. The compositions comprise antisense compounds, particularly antisense oligonucleotides, targeted to nucleic acids encoding daxx. Methods of using these compounds for modulation of daxx expression and for treatment of diseases associated with expression of daxx are provided.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides compositions and methods for modulating the expression of daxx. In particular, this invention relates to antisense compounds, particularly oligonucleotides, specifically hybridizable with nucleic acids encoding daxx. Such oligonucleotides have been shown to modulate the expression of daxx.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is a naturally occurring process that has been strongly conserved during evolution to prevent uncontrolled cell proliferation. This form of cell suicide plays a crucial role in the development and maintenance of multicellular organisms by eliminating superfluous or unwanted cells. However, if this process goes awry, excessive apoptosis results in cell loss and degenerative disorders including neurological disorders such as Alzheimers, Parkinsons, ALS, retinitis pigmentosa and blood cell disorders, while insufficient apoptosis contributes to the development of cancer, autoimmune disorders and viral infections (Thompson, Science, 1995, 267, 1456-1462).

Although several stimuli can induce apoptosis, little is known about the intermediate signaling events, including inhibition, that connect the apoptotic signal to a common cell death pathway conserved across many species. Recently, major advances have been made in understanding the signaling pathways mediated by the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) family which signals apoptosis. Two cell surface cytokine receptors of the TNFR family, TNFR-1 and CD95 (Fas/APO-1), act as death receptors and a number of binding proteins have been identified which mediate apoptosis through these receptors (Baker and Reddy, Oncogene, 1998, 17, 3261-3270).

Daxx (also known as Fas binding protein, CENP-C binding protein, dap6 for death associated protein 6 and EAP for Ets-1 associated protein) is a novel signaling protein which interacts with the cytoplasmic domain of Fas/APO-1 acting as a downstream effector in the process of apoptosis (Yang et al., Cell, 1997, 89, 1067-1076). The nucleic acid and protein sequences for human daxx are disclosed in the PCT publication WO 98/34946. Also disclosed are methods for decreasing Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathways by contacting cells with an inhibitor of daxx, wherein the inhibitors are antisense nucleic acids (Yang et al., 1998). Overexpression of daxx enhances Fas-mediated apoptosis and activates the JNK pathway (Chang et al., Science, 1998, 281, 1860-1863; Yang et al., Cell, 1997, 89, 1067-1076). This signaling pathway was originally identified as an oncogene- and ultraviolet light-stimulated kinase pathway but is now known to be activated by growth factors, cytokines and T-cell costimulation (Moriguchi et al., Adv. Pharmacol., 1996, 36, 121-137).

Daxx is widely expressed in human tissues and cloning of the human gene revealed its localization to chromosome 6p21, a genomic region that includes the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and which is implicated in the pathway for deletion of autoreactive lymphocytes (Herberg et al., J. Mol. Biol., 1998, 277, 839-857; Kiriakidou et al., DNA Cell. Biol., 1997, 16, 1289-1298). This may suggest a role for daxx in autoimmune diseases.

Daxx also interacts with a centromeric protein known as CENP-C. CENP-C is crucial to proper chromosome segregation and mitotic progression. Pluta et al. have demonstrated that daxx colocalizes with CENP-C at interphase-specific centromeres in human cell nucleii and suggest that daxx may play a role in regulating cellular responses to apoptotic stimuli (Pluta et al., J. Cell. Sci., 1998, 111, 2029-2041).

Currently, there are no known therapeutic agents which effectively inhibit the synthesis of daxx, and there remains a long felt need for agents capable of effectively inhibiting daxx function.

To date, investigative strategies aimed at modulating daxx function have involved the use of antibodies, molecules that block upstream entities, and gene knock-outs in mice.

Knockout of the daxx gene in mice resulted in extensive apoptosis and embryonic lethality. This was in contrast to the expected result from the loss of a pro-apoptotic gene, that being a hyperproliferative disorder. These findings argue against a role for Daxx in promoting Fas-induced cell death and suggest that Daxx either directly or indirectly suppresses apoptosis in the early embryo (Michaelson et al., Genes Dev., 1999, 13, 1918-1923).

Antisense technology is emerging as an effective means for reducing the expression of specific gene products and may therefore prove to be uniquely useful in a number of therapeutic, diagnostic, and research applications for the modulation of daxx expression.

The pharmacological modulation of daxx activity and/or function may therefore be an appropriate point of therapeutic intervention in pathological conditions and the present invention provides compositions and methods for modulating daxx expression.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to antisense compounds, particularly oligonucleotides, which are targeted to a nucleic acid encoding daxx, and which modulate the expression of daxx. Pharmaceutical and other compositions comprising the antisense compounds of the invention are also provided. Further provided are methods of modulating the expression of daxx in cells or tissues comprising contacting said cells or tissues with one or more of the antisense compounds or compositions of the invention. Further provided are methods of treating an animal, particularly a human, suspected of having or being prone to a disease or condition associated with expression of daxx by administering a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of one or more of the antisense compounds or compositions of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention employs oligomeric antisense compounds, particularly oligonucleotides, for use in modulating the function of nucleic acid molecules encoding daxx, ultimately modulating the amount of daxx produced. This is accomplished by providing antisense compounds which specifically hybridize with one or more nucleic acids encoding daxx. As used herein, the terms “target nucleic acid” and “nucleic acid encoding daxx” encompass DNA encoding daxx, RNA (including pre-mRNA and mRNA) transcribed from such DNA, and also cDNA derived from such RNA. The specific hybridization of an oligomeric compound with its target nucleic acid interferes with the normal function of the nucleic acid. This modulation of function of a target nucleic acid by compounds which specifically hybridize to it is generally referred to as “antisense”. The functions of DNA to be interfered with include replication and transcription. The functions of RNA to be interfered with include all vital functions such as, for example, translocation of the RNA to the site of protein translation, translation of protein from the RNA, splicing of the RNA to yield one or more mRNA species, and catalytic activity which may be engaged in or facilitated by the RNA. The overall effect of such interference with target nucleic acid function is modulation of the expression of daxx. In the context of the present invention, “modulation” means either an increase (stimulation) or a decrease (inhibition) in the expression of a gene. In the context of the present invention, inhibition is the preferred form of modulation of gene expression and mRNA is a preferred target.

It is preferred to target specific nucleic acids for antisense. “Targeting” an antisense compound to a particular nucleic acid, in the context of this invention, is a multistep process. The process usually begins with the identification of a nucleic acid sequence whose function is to be modulated. This may be, for example, a cellular gene (or mRNA transcribed from the gene) whose expression is associated with a particular disorder or disease state, or a nucleic acid molecule from an infectious agent. In the present invention, the target is a nucleic acid molecule encoding daxx. The targeting process also includes determination of a site or sites within this gene for the antisense interaction to occur such that the desired effect, e.g., detection or modulation of expression of the protein, will result. Within the context of the present invention, a preferred intragenic site is the region encompassing the translation initiation or termination codon of the open reading frame (ORF) of the gene. Since, as is known in the art, the translation initiation codon is typically 5′-AUG (in transcribed mRNA molecules; 5′-ATG in the corresponding DNA molecule), the translation initiation codon is also referred to as the “AUG codon,” the “start codon” or the “AUG start codon”. A minority of genes have a translation initiation codon having the RNA sequence 5′-GUG, 5′-UUG or 5′-CUG, and 5′-AUA, 5′-ACG and 5′-CUG have been shown to function in vivo. Thus, the terms “translation initiation codon” and “start codon” can encompass many codon sequences, even though the initiator amino acid in each instance is typically methionine (in eukaryotes) or formylmethionine (in prokaryotes). It is also known in the art that eukaryotic and prokaryotic genes may have two or more alternative start codons, any one of which may be preferentially utilized for translation initiation in a particular cell type or tissue, or under a particular set of conditions. In the context of the invention, “start codon” and “translation initiation codon” refer to the codon or codons that are used in vivo to initiate translation of an mRNA molecule transcribed from a gene encoding daxx, regardless of the sequence(s) of such codons.

It is also known in the art that a translation termination codon (or “stop codon”) of a gene may have one of three sequences, i.e., 5′-UAA, 5′-UAG and 5′-UGA (the corresponding DNA sequences are 5′-TAA, 5′-TAG and 5′-TGA, respectively). The terms “start codon region” and “translation initiation codon region” refer to a portion of such an mRNA or gene that encompasses from about 25 to about 50 contiguous nucleotides in either direction (i.e., 5′ or 3′) from a translation initiation codon. Similarly, the terms “stop codon region” and “translation termination codon region” refer to a portion of such an mRNA or gene that encompasses from about 25 to about 50 contiguous nucleotides in either direction (i.e., 5′ or 3′) from a translation termination codon.

The open reading frame (ORF) or “coding region,” which is known in the art to refer to the region between the translation initiation codon and the translation termination codon, is also a region which may be targeted effectively. Other target regions include the 5′ untranslated region (5′UTR), known in the art to refer to the portion of an mRNA in the 5′ direction from the translation initiation codon, and thus including nucleotides between the 5′ cap site and the translation initiation codon of an mRNA or corresponding nucleotides on the gene, and the 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR), known in the art to refer to the portion of an mRNA in the 3′ direction from the translation termination codon, and thus including nucleotides between the translation termination codon and 3′ end of an mRNA or corresponding nucleotides on the gene. The 5′ cap of an mRNA comprises an N7-methylated guanosine residue joined to the 5′-most residue of the mRNA via a 5′-5′ triphosphate linkage. The 5′ cap region of an mRNA is considered to include the 5′ cap structure itself as well as the first 50 nucleotides adjacent to the cap. The 5′ cap region may also be a preferred target region.

Although some eukaryotic mRNA transcripts are directly translated, many contain one or more regions, known as “introns,” which are excised from a transcript before it is translated. The remaining (and therefore translated) regions are known as “exons” and are spliced together to form a continuous mRNA sequence. mRNA splice sites, i.e., intron-exon junctions, may also be preferred target regions, and are particularly useful in situations where aberrant splicing is implicated in disease, or where an overproduction of a particular mRNA splice product is implicated in disease. Aberrant fusion junctions due to rearrangements or deletions are also preferred targets. It has also been found that introns can also be effective, and therefore preferred, target regions for antisense compounds targeted, for example, to DNA or pre-mRNA.

Once one or more target sites have been identified, oligonucleotides are chosen which are sufficiently complementary to the target, i.e., hybridize sufficiently well and with sufficient specificity, to give the desired effect.

In the context of this invention, “hybridization” means hydrogen bonding, which may be Watson-Crick, Hoogsteen or reversed Hoogsteen hydrogen bonding, between complementary nucleoside or nucleotide bases. For example, adenine and thymine are complementary nucleobases which pair through the formation of hydrogen bonds. “Complementary,” as used herein, refers to the capacity for precise pairing between two nucleotides. For example, if a nucleotide at a certain position of an oligonucleotide is capable of hydrogen bonding with a nucleotide at the same position of a DNA or RNA molecule, then the oligonucleotide and the DNA or RNA are considered to be complementary to each other at that position. The oligonucleotide and the DNA or RNA are complementary to each other when a sufficient number of corresponding positions in each molecule are occupied by nucleotides which can hydrogen bond with each other. Thus, “specifically hybridizable” and “complementary” are terms which are used to indicate a sufficient degree of complementarity or precise pairing such that stable and specific binding occurs between the oligonucleotide and the DNA or RNA target. It is understood in the art that the sequence of an antisense compound need not be 100% complementary to that of its target nucleic acid to be specifically hybridizable. An antisense compound is specifically hybridizable when binding of the compound to the target DNA or RNA molecule interferes with the normal function of the target DNA or RNA to cause a loss of utility, and there is a sufficient degree of complementarity to avoid non-specific binding of the antisense compound to non-target sequences under conditions in which specific binding is desired, i.e., under physiological conditions in the case of in vivo assays or therapeutic treatment, and in the case of in vitro assays, under conditions in which the assays are performed.

Antisense compounds are commonly used as research reagents and diagnostics. For example, antisense oligonucleotides, which are able to inhibit gene expression with exquisite specificity, are often used by those of ordinary skill to elucidate the function of particular genes. Antisense compounds are also used, for example, to distinguish between functions of various members of a biological pathway. Antisense modulation has, therefore, been harnessed for research use.

The specificity and sensitivity of antisense is also harnessed by those of skill in the art for therapeutic uses. Antisense oligonucleotides have been employed as therapeutic moieties in the treatment of disease states in animals and man. Antisense oligonucleotides have been safely and effectively administered to humans and numerous clinical trials are presently underway. It is thus established that oligonucleotides can be useful therapeutic modalities that can be configured to be useful in treatment regimes for treatment of cells, tissues and animals, especially humans. In the context of this invention, the term “oligonucleotide” refers to an oligomer or polymer of ribonucleic acid (RNA) or deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or mimetics thereof. This term includes oligonucleotides composed of naturally-occurring nucleobases, sugars and covalent internucleoside (backbone) linkages as well as oligonucleotides having non-naturally-occurring portions which function similarly. Such modified or substituted oligonucleotides are often preferred over native forms because of desirable properties such as, for example, enhanced cellular uptake, enhanced affinity for nucleic acid target and increased stability in the presence of nucleases.

While antisense oligonucleotides are a preferred form of antisense compound, the present invention comprehends other oligomeric antisense compounds, including but not limited to oligonucleotide mimetics such as are described below. The antisense compounds in accordance with this invention preferably comprise from about 8 to about 30 nucleobases (i.e. from about 8 to about 30 linked nucleosides).

Particularly preferred antisense compounds are antisense oligonucleotides, even more preferably those comprising from about 12 to about 25 nucleobases. As is known in the art, a nucleoside is a base-sugar combination. The base portion of the nucleoside is normally a heterocyclic base. The two most common classes of such heterocyclic bases are the purines and the pyrimidines. Nucleotides are nucleosides that further include a phosphate group covalently linked to the sugar portion of the nucleoside. For those nucleosides that include a pentofuranosyl sugar, the phosphate group can be linked to either the 2′, 3′ or 5′ hydroxyl moiety of the sugar. In forming oligonucleotides, the phosphate groups covalently link adjacent nucleosides to one another to form a linear polymeric compound. In turn the respective ends of this linear polymeric structure can be further joined to form a circular structure, however, open linear structures are generally preferred. Within the oligonucleotide structure, the phosphate groups are commonly referred to as forming the internucleoside backbone of the oligonucleotide. The normal linkage or backbone of RNA and DNA is a 3′ to 5′ phosphodiester linkage.

Specific examples of preferred antisense compounds useful in this invention include oligonucleotides containing modified backbones or non-natural internucleoside linkages. As defined in this specification, oligonucleotides having modified backbones include those that retain a phosphorus atom in the backbone and those that do not have a phosphorus atom in the backbone. For the purposes of this specification, and as sometimes referenced in the art, modified oligonucleotides that do not have a phosphorus atom in their internucleoside backbone can also be considered to be oligonucleosides.

Preferred modified oligonucleotide backbones include, for example, phosphorothioates, chiral phosphorothioates, phosphorodithioates, phosphotriesters, aminoalkylphosphotriesters, methyl and other alkyl phosphonates including 3′-alkylene phosphonates and chiral phosphonates, phosphinates, phosphoramidates including 3′-amino phosphoramidate and aminoalkylphosphoramidates, thionophosphoramidates, thionoalkylphosphonates, thionoalkylphosphotriesters, and boranophosphates having normal 3′-5′ linkages, 2′-5′ linked analogs of these, and those having inverted polarity wherein the adjacent pairs of nucleoside units are linked 3′-5′ to 5′-3′ or 2′-5′ to 5′-2′. Various salts, mixed salts and free acid forms are also included.

Representative U.S. patents that teach the preparation of the above phosphorus-containing linkages include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,687,808; 4,469,863; 4,476,301; 5,023,243; 5,177,196; 5,188,897; 5,264,423; 5,276,019; 5,278,302; 5,286,717; 5,321,131; 5,399,676; 5,405,939; 5,453,496; 5,455,233; 5,466,677; 5,476,925; 5,519,126; 5,536,821; 5,541,306; 5,550,111; 5,563,253; 5,571,799; 5,587,361; and 5,625,050, certain of which are commonly owned with this application, and each of which is herein incorporated by reference.

Preferred modified oligonucleotide backbones that do not include a phosphorus atom therein have backbones that are formed by short chain alkyl or cycloalkyl internucleoside linkages, mixed heteroatom and alkyl or cycloalkyl internucleoside linkages, or one or more short chain heteroatomic or heterocyclic internucleoside linkages. These include those having morpholino linkages (formed in part from the sugar portion of a nucleoside); siloxane backbones; sulfide, sulfoxide and sulfone backbones; formacetyl and thioformacetyl backbones; methylene formacetyl and thioformacetyl backbones; alkene containing backbones; sulfamate backbones; methyleneimino and methylenehydrazino backbones; sulfonate and sulfonamide backbones; amide backbones; and others having mixed N, O, S and CH₂ component parts.

Representative U.S. patents that teach the preparation of the above oligonucleosides include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,034,506; 5,166,315; 5,185,444; 5,214,134; 5,216,141; 5,235,033; 5,264,562; 5,264,564; 5,405,938; 5,434,257; 5,466,677; 5,470,967; 5,489,677; 5,541,307; 5,561,225; 5,596,086; 5,602,240; 5,610,289; 5,602,240; 5,608,046; 5,610,289; 5,618,704; 5,623,070; 5,663,312; 5,633,360; 5,677,437; and 5,677,439, certain of which are commonly owned with this application, and each of which is herein incorporated by reference.

In other preferred oligonucleotide mimetics, both the sugar and the internucleoside linkage, i.e., the backbone, of the nucleotide units are replaced with novel groups. The base units are maintained for hybridization with an appropriate nucleic acid target compound. One such oligomeric compound, an oligonucleotide mimetic that has been shown to have excellent hybridization properties, is referred to as a peptide nucleic acid (PNA). In PNA compounds, the sugar-backbone of an oligonucleotide is replaced with an amide containing backbone, in particular an aminoethylglycine backbone. The nucleobases are retained and are bound directly or indirectly to aza nitrogen atoms of the amide portion of the backbone. Representative U.S. patents that teach the preparation of PNA compounds include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,539,082; 5,714,331; and 5,719,262, each of which is herein incorporated by reference. Further teaching of PNA compounds can be found in Nielsen et al., Science, 1991, 254, 1497-1500.

Most preferred embodiments of the invention are oligonucleotides with phosphorothioate backbones and oligonucleosides with heteroatom backbones, and in particular —CH₂—NH—O—CH₂—, —CH₂—N(CH₃)—O—CH₂— [known as a methylene (methylimino) or MMI backbone), —CH₂—O—N(CH₃)—CH₂—, —CH₂—N(CH₃)—N(CH₃)—CH₂— and —O—N(CH₃)—CH₂—CH₂— [wherein the native phosphodiester backbone is represented as —O—P—O—CH₂—] of the above referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,677, and the amide backbones of the above referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,602,240. Also preferred are oligonucleotides having morpholino backbone structures of the above-referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,034,506.

Modified oligonucleotides may also contain one or more substituted sugar moieties. Preferred oligonucleotides comprise one of the following at the 2′ position: OH; F; O—, S-, or N-alkyl; O-, S-, or N-alkenyl; O-, S- or N-alkynyl; or O-alkyl-O-alkyl, wherein the alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl may be substituted or unsubstituted C₁ to C₁₀ alkyl or C₂ to C₁₀ alkenyl and alkynyl. Particularly preferred are O[(CH₂)_(n)O]_(m)H₃, O(CH₂)_(n)OCH₃, O(CH₂)_(n)NH₂, O(CH₂)_(n)CH₃, O(CH₂)_(n)ONH₂, and O(CH₂)_(n)ON((CH₂)_(n)CH₃)]₂, where n and m are from 1 to about 10. Other preferred oligonucleotides comprise one of the following at the 2′ position: C₁ to C₁₀ lower alkyl, substituted lower alkyl, alkaryl, aralkyl, O-alkaryl or O-aralkyl, SH, SCH₃, OCN, Cl, Br, CN, CF₃, OCF₃, SOCH₃, SO₂CH₃, ONO₂, NO₂, N₃, NH₂, heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkaryl, aminoalkylamino, polyalkylamino, substituted silyl, an RNA cleaving group, a reporter group, an intercalator, a group for improving the pharmacokinetic properties of an oligonucleotide, or a group for improving the pharmacodynamic properties of an oligonucleotide, and other substituents having similar properties. A preferred modification includes 2′-methoxyethoxy (2′-O—CH₂CH₂OCH₃, also known as 2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl) or 2′-MOE) (Martin et al., Helv. Chim. Acta, 1995, 78, 486-504) i.e., an alkoxyalkoxy group. A further preferred modification includes 2′-dimethylaminooxyethoxy, i.e., a O(CH₂)₂ON(CH₃)₂ group, also known as 2′-DMAOE, as described in examples hereinbelow, and 2′-dimethylaminoethoxyethoxy (also known in the art as 2′-O-dimethylaminoethoxyethyl or 2′-DMAEOE), i.e., 2′-O—CH₂—O—CH₂—N(CH₂)₂, also described in examples hereinbelow.

Other preferred modifications include 2′-methoxy (2′-O—CH₃), 2′-aminopropoxy (2′-OCH₂CH₂CH₂NH₂) and 2′-fluoro (2′-F). Similar modifications may also be made at other positions on the oligonucleotide, particularly the 3′ position of the sugar on the 3′ terminal nucleotide or in 2′-5′ linked oligonucleotides and the 5′ position of 5′ terminal nucleotide. Oligonucleotides may also have sugar mimetics such as cyclobutyl moieties in place of the pentofuranosyl sugar. Representative U.S. patents that teach the preparation of such modified sugar structures include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,981,957; 5,118,800; 5,319,080; 5,359,044; 5,393,878; 5,446,137; 5,466,786; 5,514,785; 5,519,134; 5,567,811; 5,576,427; 5,591,722; 5,597,909; 5,610,300; 5,627,053; 5,639,873; 5,646,265; 5,658,873; 5,670,633; and 5,700,920, certain of which are commonly owned with the instant application, and each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Oligonucleotides may also include nucleobase (often referred to in the art simply as “base”) modifications or substitutions. As used herein, “unmodified” or “natural” nucleobases include the purine bases adenine (A) and guanine (G), and the pyrimidine bases thymine (T), cytosine (C) and uracil (U). Modified nucleobases include other synthetic and natural nucleobases such as 5-methylcytosine (5-me-C), 5-hydroxymethyl cytosine, xanthine, hypoxanthine, 2-aminoadenine, 6-methyl and other alkyl derivatives of adenine and guanine, 2-propyl and other alkyl derivatives of adenine and guanine, 2-thiouracil, 2-thiothymine and 2-thiocytosine, 5-halouracil and cytosine, 5-propynyl uracil and cytosine, 6-azo uracil, cytosine and thymine, 5-uracil (pseudouracil), 4-thiouracil, 8-halo, 8-amino, 8-thiol, 8-thioalkyl, 8-hydroxyl and other 8-substituted adenines and guanines, 5-halo particularly 5-bromo, 5-trifluoromethyl and other 5-substituted uracils and cytosines, 7-methylguanine and 7-methyladenine, 8-azaguanine and 8-azaadenine, 7-deazaguanine and 7-deazaadenine and 3-deazaguanine and 3-deazaadenine. Further nucleobases include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,687,808, those disclosed in The Concise Encyclopedia Of Polymer Science And Engineering, pages 858-859, Kroschwitz, J. I., ed. John Wiley & Sons, 1990, those disclosed by Englisch et al., Angewandte Chemie, International Edition, 1991, 30, 613, and those disclosed by Sanghvi, Y. S., Chapter 15, Antisense Research and Applications, pages 289-302, Crooke, S. T. and Lebleu, B., ed., CRC Press, 1993. Certain of these nucleobases are particularly useful for increasing the binding affinity of the oligomeric compounds of the invention. These include 5-substituted pyrimidines, 6-azapyrimidines and N-2, N-6 and O-6 substituted purines, including 2-aminopropyladenine, 5-propynyluracil and 5-propynylcytosine. 5-methylcytosine substitutions have been shown to increase nucleic acid duplex stability by 0.6-1.2° C. (Sanghvi, Y. S., Crooke, S. T. and Lebleu, B., eds., Antisense Research and Applications, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1993, pp. 276-278) and are presently preferred base substitutions, even more particularly when combined with 2′-O-methoxyethyl sugar modifications.

Representative U.S. patents that teach the preparation of certain of the above noted modified nucleobases as well as other modified nucleobases include, but are not limited to, the above noted U.S. Pat. No. 3,687,808, as well as U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,845,205; 5,130,302; 5,134,066; 5,175,273; 5,367,066; 5,432,272; 5,457,187; 5,459,255; 5,484,908; 5,502,177; 5,525,711; 5,552,540; 5,587,469; 5,594,121, 5,596,091; 5,614,617; and 5,681,941, certain of which are commonly owned with the instant application, and each of which is herein incorporated by reference, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,750,692, which is commonly owned with the instant application and also herein incorporated by reference.

Another modification of the oligonucleotides of the invention involves chemically linking to the oligonucleotide one or more moieties or conjugates which enhance the activity, cellular distribution or cellular uptake of the oligonucleotide. Such moieties include but are not limited to lipid moieties such as a cholesterol moiety (Letsinger et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1989, 86, 6553-6556), cholic acid (Manoharan et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Let., 1994, 4, 1053-1060), a thioether, e.g., hexyl-S-tritylthiol (Manoharan et al., Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 1992, 660, 306-309; Manoharan et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Let., 1993, 3, 2765-2770), a thiocholesterol (Oberhauser et al., Nucl. Acids Res., 1992, 20, 533-538), an aliphatic chain, e.g., dodecandiol or undecyl residues (Saison-Behmoaras et al., EMBO J., 1991, 10, 1111-1118; Kabanov et al., FEBS Lett., 1990, 259, 327-330; Svinarchuk et al., Biochimie, 1993, 75, 49-54), a phospholipid, e.g., di-hexadecyl-rac-glycerol or triethyl-ammonium 1,2-di-O-hexadecyl-rac-glycero-3-H-phosphonate (Manoharan et al., Tetrahedron Lett., 1995, 36, 3651-3654; Shea et al., Nucl. Acids Res., 1990, 18, 3777-3783), a polyamine or a polyethylene glycol chain (Manoharan et al., Nucleosides & Nucleotides, 1995, 14, 969-973), or adamantane acetic acid (Manoharan et al., Tetrahedron Lett., 1995, 36, 3651-3654), a palmityl moiety (Mishra et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1995, 1264, 229-237), or an octadecylamine or hexylamino-carbonyl-oxycholesterol moiety (Crooke et al., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., 1996, 277, 923-937.

Representative U.S. patents that teach the preparation of such oligonucleotide conjugates include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,828,979; 4,948,882; 5,218,105; 5,525,465; 5,541,313; 5,545,730; 5,552,538; 5,578,717, 5,580,731; 5,580,731; 5,591,584; 5,109,124; 5,118,802; 5,138,045; 5,414,077; 5,486,603; 5,512,439; 5,578,718; 5,608,046; 4,587,044; 4,605,735; 4,667,025; 4,762,779; 4,789,737; 4,824,941; 4,835,263; 4,876,335; 4,904,582; 4,958,013; 5,082,830; 5,112,963; 5,214,136; 5,082,830; 5,112,963; 5,214,136; 5,245,022; 5,254,469; 5,258,506; 5,262,536; 5,272,250; 5,292,873; 5,317,098; 5,371,241, 5,391,723; 5,416,203, 5,451,463; 5,510,475; 5,512,667; 5,514,785; 5,565,552; 5,567,810; 5,574,142; 5,585,481; 5,587,371; 5,595,726; 5,597,696; 5,599,923; 5,599,928 and 5,688,941, certain of which are commonly owned with the instant application, and each of which is herein incorporated by reference.

It is not necessary for all positions in a given compound to be uniformly modified, and in fact more than one of the aforementioned modifications may be incorporated in a single compound or even at a single nucleoside within an oligonucleotide. The present invention also includes antisense compounds which are chimeric compounds. “Chimeric” antisense compounds or “chimeras,” in the context of this invention, are antisense compounds, particularly oligonucleotides, which contain two or more chemically distinct regions, each made up of at least one monomer unit, i.e., a nucleotide in the case of an oligonucleotide compound. These oligonucleotides typically contain at least one region wherein the oligonucleotide is modified so as to confer upon the oligonucleotide increased resistance to nuclease degradation, increased cellular uptake, and/or increased binding affinity for the target nucleic acid. An additional region of the oligonucleotide may serve as a substrate for enzymes capable of cleaving RNA:DNA or RNA:RNA hybrids. By way of example, RNase H is a cellular endonuclease which cleaves the RNA strand of an RNA:DNA duplex. Activation of RNase H, therefore, results in cleavage of the RNA target, thereby greatly enhancing the efficiency of oligonucleotide inhibition of gene expression. Consequently, comparable results can often be obtained with shorter oligonucleotides when chimeric oligonucleotides are used, compared to phosphorothioate deoxyoligonucleotides hybridizing to the same target region. Cleavage of the RNA target can be routinely detected by gel electrophoresis and, if necessary, associated nucleic acid hybridization techniques known in the art.

Chimeric antisense compounds of the invention may be formed as composite structures of two or more oligonucleotides, modified oligonucleotides, oligonucleosides and/or oligonucleotide mimetics as described above. Such compounds have also been referred to in the art as hybrids or gapmers. Representative U.S. patents that teach the preparation of such hybrid structures include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,013,830; 5,149,797; 5,220,007; 5,256,775; 5,366,878; 5,403,711; 5,491,133; 5,565,350; 5,623,065; 5,652,355; 5,652,356; and 5,700,922, certain of which are commonly owned with the instant application, and each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The antisense compounds used in accordance with this invention may be conveniently and routinely made through the well-known technique of solid phase synthesis. Equipment for such synthesis is sold by several vendors including, for example, Applied Biosystems (Foster City, Calif.). Any other means for such synthesis known in the art may additionally or alternatively be employed. It is well known to use similar techniques to prepare oligonucleotides such as the phosphorothioates and alkylated derivatives.

The antisense compounds of the invention are synthesized in vitro and do not include antisense compositions of biological origin, or genetic vector constructs designed to direct the in vivo synthesis of antisense molecules. The compounds of the invention may also be admixed, encapsulated, conjugated or otherwise associated with other molecules, molecule structures or mixtures of compounds, as for example, liposomes, receptor targeted molecules, oral, rectal, topical or other formulations, for assisting in uptake, distribution and/or absorption. Representative U.S. patents that teach the preparation of such uptake, distribution and/or absorption assisting formulations include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,108,921; 5,354,844; 5,416,016; 5,459,127; 5,521,291; 5,543,158; 5,547,932; 5,583,020; 5,591,721; 4,426,330; 4,534,899; 5,013,556; 5,108,921; 5,213,804; 5,227,170; 5,264,221; 5,356,633; 5,395,619; 5,416,016; 5,417,978; 5,462,854; 5,469,854; 5,512,295; 5,527,528; 5,534,259; 5,543,152; 5,556,948; 5,580,575; and 5,595,756, each of which is herein incorporated by reference.

The antisense compounds of the invention encompass any pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or salts of such esters, or any other compound which, upon administration to an animal including a human, is capable of providing (directly or indirectly) the biologically active metabolite or residue thereof. Accordingly, for example, the disclosure is also drawn to prodrugs and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of the invention, pharmaceutically acceptable salts of such prodrugs, and other bioequivalents.

The term “prodrug” indicates a therapeutic agent that is prepared in an inactive form that is converted to an active form (i.e., drug) within the body or cells thereof by the action of endogenous enzymes or other chemicals and/or conditions. In particular, prodrug versions of the oligonucleotides of the invention are prepared as SATE [(S-acetyl-2-thioethyl) phosphate] derivatives according to the methods disclosed in WO 93/24510 to Gosselin et al., published Dec. 9, 1993 or in WO 94/26764 to Imbach et al.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salts” refers to physiologically and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of the invention: i.e., salts that retain the desired biological activity of the parent compound and do not impart undesired toxicological effects thereto.

Pharmaceutically acceptable base addition salts are formed with metals or amines, such as alkali and alkaline earth metals or organic amines. Examples of metals used as cations are sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and the like. Examples of suitable amines are N,N′-dibenzylethylenediamine, chloroprocaine, choline, diethanolamine, dicyclohexylamine, ethylenediamine, N-methylglucamine, and procaine (see, for example, Berge et al., “Pharmaceutical Salts,” J. of Pharma Sci., 1977, 66, 1-19). The base addition salts of said acidic compounds are prepared by contacting the free acid form with a sufficient amount of the desired base to produce the salt in the conventional manner. The free acid form may be regenerated by contacting the salt form with an acid and isolating the free acid in the conventional manner. The free acid forms differ from their respective salt forms somewhat in certain physical properties such as solubility in polar solvents, but otherwise the salts are equivalent to their respective free acid for purposes of the present invention. As used herein, a “pharmaceutical addition salt” includes a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of an acid form of one of the components of the compositions of the invention. These include organic or inorganic acid salts of the amines. Preferred acid salts are the hydrochlorides, acetates, salicylates, nitrates and phosphates. Other suitable pharmaceutically acceptable salts are well known to those skilled in the art and include basic salts of a variety of inorganic and organic acids, such as, for example, with inorganic acids, such as for example hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid; with organic carboxylic, sulfonic, sulfo or phospho acids or N-substituted sulfamic acids, for example acetic acid, propionic acid, glycolic acid, succinic acid, maleic acid, hydroxymaleic acid, methylmaleic acid, fumaric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid, oxalic acid, gluconic acid, glucaric acid, glucuronic acid, citric acid, benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, mandelic acid, salicylic acid, 4-aminosalicylic acid, 2-phenoxybenzoic acid, 2-acetoxybenzoic acid, embonic acid, nicotinic acid or isonicotinic acid; and with amino acids, such as the 20 alpha-amino acids involved in the synthesis of proteins in nature, for example glutamic acid or aspartic acid, and also with phenylacetic acid, methanesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, 2-hydroxyethanesulfonic acid, ethane-1,2-disulfonic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, 4-methylbenzenesulfonic acid, naphthalene-2-sulfonic acid, naphthalene-1,5-disulfonic acid, 2- or 3-phosphoglycerate, glucose-6-phosphate, N-cyclohexylsulfamic acid (with the formation of cyclamates), or with other acid organic compounds, such as ascorbic acid. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts of compounds may also be prepared with a pharmaceutically acceptable cation. Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable cations are well known to those skilled in the art and include alkaline, alkaline earth, ammonium and quaternary ammonium cations. Carbonates or hydrogen carbonates are also possible.

For oligonucleotides, preferred examples of pharmaceutically acceptable salts include but are not limited to (a) salts formed with cations such as sodium, potassium, ammonium, magnesium, calcium, polyamines such as spermine and spermidine, etc.; (b) acid addition salts formed with inorganic acids, for example hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, nitric acid and the like; (c) salts formed with organic acids such as, for example, acetic acid, oxalic acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, gluconic acid, citric acid, malic acid, ascorbic acid, benzoic acid, tannic acid, palmitic acid, alginic acid, polyglutamic acid, naphthalenesulfonic acid, methanesulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, naphthalenedisulfonic acid, polygalacturonic acid, and the like; and (d) salts formed from elemental anions such as chlorine, bromine, and iodine.

The antisense compounds of the present invention can be utilized for diagnostics, therapeutics, prophylaxis and as research reagents and kits. For therapeutics, an animal, preferably a human, suspected of having a disease or disorder which can be treated by modulating the expression of daxx is treated by administering antisense compounds in accordance with this invention. The compounds of the invention can be utilized in pharmaceutical compositions by adding an effective amount of an antisense compound to a suitable pharmaceutically acceptable diluent or carrier. Use of the antisense compounds and methods of the invention may also be useful prophylactically, e.g., to prevent or delay infection, inflammation or tumor formation, for example.

The antisense compounds of the invention are useful for research and diagnostics, because these compounds hybridize to nucleic acids encoding daxx, enabling sandwich and other assays to easily be constructed to exploit this fact. Hybridization of the antisense oligonucleotides of the invention with a nucleic acid encoding daxx can be detected by means known in the art. Such means may include conjugation of an enzyme to the oligonucleotide, radiolabelling of the oligonucleotide or any other suitable detection means. Kits using such detection means for detecting the level of daxx in a sample may also be prepared.

The present invention also includes pharmaceutical compositions and formulations which include the antisense compounds of the invention. The pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention may be administered in a number of ways depending upon whether local or systemic treatment is desired and upon the area to be treated. Administration may be topical (including ophthalmic and to mucous membranes including vaginal and rectal delivery), pulmonary, e.g., by inhalation or insufflation of powders or aerosols, including by nebulizer; intratracheal, intranasal, epidermal and transdermal), oral or parenteral. Parenteral administration includes intravenous, intraarterial, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal or intramuscular injection or infusion; or intracranial, e.g., intrathecal or intraventricular, administration. Oligonucleotides with at least one 2′-O-methoxyethyl modification are believed to be particularly useful for oral administration.

Pharmaceutical compositions and formulations for topical administration may include transdermal patches, ointments, lotions, creams, gels, drops, suppositories, sprays, liquids and powders. Conventional pharmaceutical carriers, aqueous, powder or oily bases, thickeners and the like may be necessary or desirable. Coated condoms, gloves and the like may also be useful.

Compositions and formulations for oral administration include powders or granules, suspensions or solutions in water or non-aqueous media, capsules, sachets or tablets. Thickeners, flavoring agents, diluents, emulsifiers, dispersing aids or binders may be desirable.

Compositions and formulations for parenteral, intrathecal or intraventricular administration may include sterile aqueous solutions which may also contain buffers, diluents and other suitable additives such as, but not limited to, penetration enhancers, carrier compounds and other pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients.

Pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention include, but are not limited to, solutions, emulsions, and liposome-containing formulations. These compositions may be generated from a variety of components that include, but are not limited to, preformed liquids, self-emulsifying solids and self-emulsifying semisolids.

The pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention, which may conveniently be presented in unit dosage form, may be prepared according to conventional techniques well known in the pharmaceutical industry. Such techniques include the step of bringing into association the active ingredients with the pharmaceutical carrier(s) or excipient(s). In general the formulations are prepared by uniformly and intimately bringing into association the active ingredients with liquid carriers or finely divided solid carriers or both, and then, if necessary, shaping the product.

The compositions of the present invention may be formulated into any of many possible dosage forms such as, but not limited to, tablets, capsules, liquid syrups, soft gels, suppositories, and enemas. The compositions of the present invention may also be formulated as suspensions in aqueous, non-aqueous or mixed media. Aqueous suspensions may further contain substances which increase the viscosity of the suspension including, for example, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, sorbitol and/or dextran. The suspension may also contain stabilizers.

In one embodiment of the present invention the pharmaceutical compositions may be formulated and used as foams. Pharmaceutical foams include formulations such as, but not limited to, emulsions, microemulsions, creams, jellies and liposomes. While basically similar in nature these formulations vary in the components and the consistency of the final product. The preparation of such compositions and formulations is generally known to those skilled in the pharmaceutical and formulation arts and may be applied to the formulation of the compositions of the present invention.

Emulsions

The compositions of the present invention may be prepared and formulated as emulsions. Emulsions are typically heterogenous systems of one liquid dispersed in another in the form of droplets usually exceeding 0.1 μm in diameter. (Idson, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 199; Rosoff, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., Volume 1, p. 245; Block in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 2, p. 335; Higuchi et al., in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa., 1985, p. 301). Emulsions are often biphasic systems comprising of two immiscible liquid phases intimately mixed and dispersed with each other. In general, emulsions may be either water-in-oil (w/o) or of the oil-in-water (o/w) variety. When an aqueous phase is finely divided into and dispersed as minute droplets into a bulk oily phase the resulting composition is called a water-in-oil (w/o) emulsion. Alternatively, when an oily phase is finely divided into and dispersed as minute droplets into a bulk aqueous phase the resulting composition is called an oil-in-water (o/w) emulsion. Emulsions may contain additional components in addition to the dispersed phases and the active drug which may be present as a solution in either the aqueous phase, oily phase or itself as a separate phase. Pharmaceutical excipients such as emulsifiers, stabilizers, dyes, and anti-oxidants may also be present in emulsions as needed. Pharmaceutical emulsions may also be multiple emulsions that are comprised of more than two phases such as, for example, in the case of oil-in-water-in-oil (o/w/o) and water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w) emulsions. Such complex formulations often provide certain advantages that simple binary emulsions do not. Multiple emulsions in which individual oil droplets of an o/w emulsion enclose small water droplets constitute a w/o/w emulsion. Likewise a system of oil droplets enclosed in globules of water stabilized in an oily continuous provides an o/w/o emulsion.

Emulsions are characterized by little or no thermodynamic stability. Often, the dispersed or discontinuous phase of the emulsion is well dispersed into the external or continuous phase and maintained in this form through the means of emulsifiers or the viscosity of the formulation. Either of the phases of the emulsion may be a semisolid or a solid, as is the case of emulsion-style ointment bases and creams. Other means of stabilizing emulsions entail the use of emulsifiers that may be incorporated into either phase of the emulsion. Emulsifiers may broadly be classified into four categories: synthetic surfactants, naturally occurring emulsifiers, absorption bases, and finely dispersed solids (Idson, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 199).

Synthetic surfactants, also known as surface active agents, have found wide applicability in the formulation of emulsions and have been reviewed in the literature (Rieger, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 285; Idson, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., 1988, volume 1, p. 199). Surfactants are typically amphiphilic and comprise a hydrophilic and a hydrophobic portion. The ratio of the hydrophilic to the hydrophobic nature of the surfactant has been termed the hydrophile/lipophile balance (HLB) and is a valuable tool in categorizing and selecting surfactants in the preparation of formulations. Surfactants may be classified into different classes based on the nature of the hydrophilic group: nonionic, anionic, cationic and amphoteric (Rieger, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 285).

Naturally occurring emulsifiers used in emulsion formulations include lanolin, beeswax, phosphatides, lecithin and acacia. Absorption bases possess hydrophilic properties such that they can soak up water to form w/o emulsions yet retain their semisolid consistencies, such as anhydrous lanolin and hydrophilic petrolatum. Finely divided solids have also been used as good emulsifiers especially in combination with surfactants and in viscous preparations. These include polar inorganic solids, such as heavy metal hydroxides, nonswelling clays such as bentonite, attapulgite, hectorite, kaolin, montmorillonite, colloidal aluminum silicate and colloidal magnesium aluminum silicate, pigments and nonpolar solids such as carbon or glyceryl tristearate.

A large variety of non-emulsifying materials are also included in emulsion formulations and contribute to the properties of emulsions. These include fats, oils, waxes, fatty acids, fatty alcohols, fatty esters, humectants, hydrophilic colloids, preservatives and antioxidants (Block, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 335; Idson, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 199).

Hydrophilic colloids or hydrocolloids include naturally occurring gums and synthetic polymers such as polysaccharides (for example, acacia, agar, alginic acid, carrageenan, guar gum, karaya gum, and tragacanth), cellulose derivatives (for example, carboxymethylcellulose and carboxypropylcellulose), and synthetic polymers (for example, carbomers, cellulose ethers, and carboxyvinyl polymers). These disperse or swell in water to form colloidal solutions that stabilize emulsions by forming strong interfacial films around the dispersed-phase droplets and by increasing the viscosity of the external phase.

Since emulsions often contain a number of ingredients such as carbohydrates, proteins, sterols and phosphatides that may readily support the growth of microbes, these formulations often incorporate preservatives. Commonly used preservatives included in emulsion formulations include methyl paraben, propyl paraben, quaternary ammonium salts, benzalkonium chloride, esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and boric acid. Antioxidants are also commonly added to emulsion formulations to prevent deterioration of the formulation. Antioxidants used may be free radical scavengers such as tocopherols, alkyl gallates, butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, or reducing agents such as ascorbic acid and sodium metabisulfite, and antioxidant synergists such as citric acid, tartaric acid, and lecithin.

The application of emulsion formulations via dermatological, oral and parenteral routes and methods for their manufacture have been reviewed in the literature (Idson, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 199). Emulsion formulations for oral delivery have been very widely used because of reasons of ease of formulation, efficacy from an absorption and bioavailability standpoint. (Rosoff, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 245; Idson, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 199). Mineral-oil base laxatives, oil-soluble vitamins and high fat nutritive preparations are among the materials that have commonly been administered orally as o/w emulsions.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the compositions of oligonucleotides and nucleic acids are formulated as microemulsions. A microemulsion may be defined as a system of water, oil and amphiphile which is a single optically isotropic and thermodynamically stable liquid solution (Rosoff, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 245). Typically microemulsions are systems that are prepared by first dispersing an oil in an aqueous surfactant solution and then adding a sufficient amount of a fourth component, generally an intermediate chain-length alcohol to form a transparent system. Therefore, microemulsions have also been described as thermodynamically stable, isotropically clear dispersions of two immiscible liquids that are stabilized by interfacial films of surface-active molecules (Leung and Shah, in: Controlled Release of Drugs: Polymers and Aggregate Systems, Rosoff, M., Ed., 1989, VCH Publishers, New York, pages 185-215). Microemulsions commonly are prepared via a combination of three to five components that include oil, water, surfactant, cosurfactant and electrolyte. Whether the microemulsion is of the water-in-oil (w/o) or an oil-in-water (o/w) type is dependent on the properties of the oil and surfactant used and on the structure and geometric packing of the polar heads and hydrocarbon tails of the surfactant molecules (Schott, in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa., 1985, p. 271).

The phenomenological approach utilizing phase diagrams has been extensively studied and has yielded a comprehensive knowledge, to one skilled in the art, of how to formulate microemulsions (Rosoff, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 245; Block, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 335). Compared to conventional emulsions, microemulsions offer the advantage of solubilizing water-insoluble drugs in a formulation of thermodynamically stable droplets that are formed spontaneously.

Surfactants used in the preparation of microemulsions include, but are not limited to, ionic surfactants, non-ionic surfactants, Brij 96, polyoxyethylene oleyl ethers, polyglycerol fatty acid esters, tetraglycerol monolaurate (ML310), tetraglycerol monooleate (MO310), hexaglycerol monooleate (PO310), hexaglycerol pentaoleate (PO500), decaglycerol monocaprate (MCA750), decaglycerol monooleate (MO750), decaglycerol sequioleate (SO750), decaglycerol decaoleate (DAO750), alone or in combination with cosurfactants. The cosurfactant, usually a short-chain alcohol such as ethanol, 1-propanol, and 1-butanol, serves to increase the interfacial fluidity by penetrating into the surfactant film and consequently creating a disordered film because of the void space generated among surfactant molecules. Microemulsions may, however, be prepared without the use of cosurfactants and alcohol-free self-emulsifying microemulsion systems are known in the art. The aqueous phase may typically be, but is not limited to, water, an aqueous solution of the drug, glycerol, PEG300, PEG400, polyglycerols, propylene glycols, and derivatives of ethylene glycol. The oil phase may include, but is not limited to, materials such as Captex 300, Captex 355, Capmul MCM, fatty acid esters, medium chain (C8-C12) mono, di, and tri-glycerides, polyoxyethylated glyceryl fatty acid esters, fatty alcohols, polyglycolized glycerides, saturated polyglycolized C8-C10 glycerides, vegetable oils and silicone oil.

Microemulsions are particularly of interest from the standpoint of drug solubilization and the enhanced absorption of drugs. Lipid based microemulsions (both o/w and w/o) have been proposed to enhance the oral bioavailability of drugs, including peptides (Constantinides et al., Pharmaceutical Research, 1994, 11, 1385-1390; Ritschel, Meth. Find. Exp. Clin. Pharmacol., 1993, 13, 205). Microemulsions afford advantages of improved drug solubilization, protection of drug from enzymatic hydrolysis, possible enhancement of drug absorption due to surfactant-induced alterations in membrane fluidity and permeability, ease of preparation, ease of oral administration over solid dosage forms, improved clinical potency, and decreased toxicity (Constantinides et al., Pharmaceutical Research, 1994, 11, 1385; Ho et al., J. Pharm. Sci., 1996, 85, 138-143). Often microemulsions may form spontaneously when their components are brought together at ambient temperature. This may be particularly advantageous when formulating thermolabile drugs, peptides or oligonucleotides. Microemulsions have also been effective in the transdermal delivery of active components in both cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications. It is expected that the microemulsion compositions and formulations of the present invention will facilitate the increased systemic absorption of oligonucleotides and nucleic acids from the gastrointestinal tract, as well as improve the local cellular uptake of oligonucleotides and nucleic acids within the gastrointestinal tract, vagina, buccal cavity and other areas of administration.

Microemulsions of the present invention may also contain additional components and additives such as sorbitan monostearate (Grill 3), Labrasol, and penetration enhancers to improve the properties of the formulation and to enhance the absorption of the oligonucleotides and nucleic acids of the present invention. Penetration enhancers used in the microemulsions of the present invention may be classified as belonging to one of five broad categories—surfactants, fatty acids, bile salts, chelating agents, and non-chelating non-surfactants (Lee et al., Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1991, p. 92). Each of these classes has been discussed above.

Liposomes

There are many organized surfactant structures besides microemulsions that have been studied and used for the formulation of drugs. These include monolayers, micelles, bilayers and vesicles. Vesicles, such as liposomes, have attracted great interest because of their specificity and the duration of action they offer from the standpoint of drug delivery. As used in the present invention, the term “liposome” means a vesicle composed of amphiphilic lipids arranged in a spherical bilayer or bilayers.

Liposomes are unilamellar or multilamellar vesicles which have a membrane formed from a lipophilic material and an aqueous interior. The aqueous portion contains the composition to be delivered. Cationic liposomes possess the advantage of being able to fuse to the cell wall. Non-cationic liposomes, although not able to fuse as efficiently with the cell wall, are taken up by macrophages in vivo.

In order to cross intact mammalian skin, lipid vesicles must pass through a series of fine pores, each with a diameter less than 50 nm, under the influence of a suitable transdermal gradient. Therefore, it is desirable to use a liposome which is highly deformable and able to pass through such fine pores.

Further advantages of liposomes include; liposomes obtained from natural phospholipids are biocompatible and biodegradable; liposomes can incorporate a wide range of water and lipid soluble drugs; liposomes can protect encapsulated drugs in their internal compartments from metabolism and degradation (Rosoff, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 245). Important considerations in the preparation of liposome formulations are the lipid surface charge, vesicle size and the aqueous volume of the liposomes.

Liposomes are useful for the transfer and delivery of active ingredients to the site of action. Because the liposomal membrane is structurally similar to biological membranes, when liposomes are applied to a tissue, the liposomes start to merge with the cellular membranes. As the merging of the liposome and cell progresses, the liposomal contents are emptied into the cell where the active agent may act.

Liposomal formulations have been the focus of extensive investigation as the mode of delivery for many drugs. There is growing evidence that for topical administration, liposomes present several advantages over other formulations. Such advantages include reduced side-effects related to high systemic absorption of the administered drug, increased accumulation of the administered drug at the desired target, and the ability to administer a wide variety of drugs, both hydrophilic and hydrophobic, into the skin.

Several reports have detailed the ability of liposomes to deliver agents including high-molecular weight DNA into the skin. Compounds including analgesics, antibodies, hormones and high-molecular weight DNAs have been administered to the skin. The majority of applications resulted in the targeting of the upper epidermis.

Liposomes fall into two broad classes. Cationic liposomes are positively charged liposomes which interact with the negatively charged DNA molecules to form a stable complex. The positively charged DNA/liposome complex binds to the negatively charged cell surface and is internalized in an endosome. Due to the acidic pH within the endosome, the liposomes are ruptured, releasing their contents into the cell cytoplasm (Wang et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 1987, 147, 980-985).

Liposomes which are pH-sensitive or negatively-charged, entrap DNA rather than complex with it. Since both the DNA and the lipid are similarly charged, repulsion rather than complex formation occurs. Nevertheless, some DNA is entrapped within the aqueous interior of these liposomes. pH-sensitive liposomes have been used to deliver DNA encoding the thymidine kinase gene to cell monolayers in culture. Expression of the exogenous gene was detected in the target cells (Zhou et al., Journal of Controlled Release, 1992, 19, 269-274).

One major type of liposomal composition includes phospholipids other than naturally-derived phosphatidylcholine. Neutral liposome compositions, for example, can be formed from dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) or dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC). Anionic liposome compositions generally are formed from dimyristoyl phosphatidylglycerol, while anionic fusogenic liposomes are formed primarily from dioleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE). Another type of liposomal composition is formed from phosphatidylcholine (PC) such as, for example, soybean PC, and egg PC. Another type is formed from mixtures of phospholipid and/or phosphatidylcholine and/or cholesterol.

Several studies have assessed the topical delivery of liposomal drug formulations to the skin. Application of liposomes containing interferon to guinea pig skin resulted in a reduction of skin herpes sores while delivery of interferon via other means (e.g. as a solution or as an emulsion) were ineffective (Weiner et al., Journal of Drug Targeting, 1992, 2, 405-410). Further, an additional study tested the efficacy of interferon administered as part of a liposomal formulation to the administration of interferon using an aqueous system, and concluded that the liposomal formulation was superior to aqueous administration (du Plessis et al., Antiviral Research, 1992, 18, 259-265).

Non-ionic liposomal systems have also been examined to determine their utility in the delivery of drugs to the skin, in particular systems comprising non-ionic surfactant and cholesterol. Non-ionic liposomal formulations comprising Novasome™ I (glyceryl dilaurate/cholesterol/polyoxyethylene-10-stearyl ether) and Novasome™ II (glyceryl distearate/cholesterol/polyoxyethylene-10-stearyl ether) were used to deliver cyclosporin-A into the dermis of mouse skin. Results indicated that such non-ionic liposomal systems were effective in facilitating the deposition of cyclosporin-A into different layers of the skin (Hu et al. S.T.P.Pharma. Sci., 1994, 4, 6, 466).

Liposomes also include “sterically stabilized” liposomes, a term which, as used herein, refers to liposomes comprising one or more specialized lipids that, when incorporated into liposomes, result in enhanced circulation lifetimes relative to liposomes lacking such specialized lipids. Examples of sterically stabilized liposomes are those in which part of the vesicle-forming lipid portion of the liposome (A) comprises one or more glycolipids, such as monosialoganglioside G_(Ml), or (B) is derivatized with one or more hydrophilic polymers, such as a polyethylene glycol (PEG) moiety. While not wishing to be bound by any particular theory, it is thought in the art that, at least for sterically stabilized liposomes containing gangliosides, sphingomyelin, or PEG-derivatized lipids, the enhanced circulation half-life of these sterically stabilized liposomes derives from a reduced uptake into cells of the reticuloendothelial system (RES) (Allen et al., FEBS Letters, 1987, 223, 42; Wu et al., Cancer Research, 1993, 53, 3765).

Various liposomes comprising one or more glycolipids are known in the art. Papahadjopoulos et al. (Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 1987, 507, 64) reported the ability of monosialoganglioside G_(Ml), galactocerebroside sulfate and phosphatidylinositol to improve blood half-lives of liposomes. These findings were expounded upon by Gabizon et al. (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 1988, 85, 6949). U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,028 and WO 88/04924, both to Allen et al., disclose liposomes comprising (1) sphingomyelin and (2) the ganglioside G_(Ml) or a galactocerebroside sulfate ester. U.S. Pat. No. 5,543,152 (Webb et al.) discloses liposomes comprising sphingomyelin. Liposomes comprising 1,2-sn-dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine are disclosed in WO 97/13499 (Lim et al.).

Many liposomes comprising lipids derivatized with one or more hydrophilic polymers, and methods of preparation thereof, are known in the art. Sunamoto et al. (Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn., 1980, 53, 2778) described liposomes comprising a nonionic detergent, 2C₁₂15G, that contains a PEG moiety. Illum et al. (FEBS Lett., 1984, 167, 79) noted that hydrophilic coating of polystyrene particles with polymeric glycols results in significantly enhanced blood half-lives. Synthetic phospholipids modified by the attachment of carboxylic groups of polyalkylene glycols (e.g., PEG) are described by Sears (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,426,330 and 4,534,899). Klibanov et al. (FEBS Lett., 1990, 268, 235) described experiments demonstrating that liposomes comprising phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) derivatized with PEG or PEG stearate have significant increases in blood circulation half-lives. Blume et al. (Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1990, 1029, 91) extended such observations to other PEG-derivatized phospholipids, e.g., DSPE-PEG, formed from the combination of distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DSPE) and PEG. Liposomes having covalently bound PEG moieties on their external surface are described in European Patent No. EP 0 445 131 B1 and WO 90/04384 to Fisher. Liposome compositions containing 1-20 mole percent of PE derivatized with PEG, and methods of use thereof, are described by Woodle et al. (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,013,556 and 5,356,633) and Martin et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,804 and European Patent No. EP 0 496 813 B1). Liposomes comprising a number of other lipid-polymer conjugates are disclosed in WO 91/05545 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,225,212 (both to Martin et al.) and in WO 94/20073 (Zalipsky et al.) Liposomes comprising PEG-modified ceramide lipids are described in WO 96/10391 (Choi et al.). U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,540,935 (Miyazaki et al.) and 5,556,948 (Tagawa et al.) describe PEG-containing liposomes that can be further derivatized with functional moieties on their surfaces.

A limited number of liposomes comprising nucleic acids are known in the art. WO 96/40062 to Thierry et al. discloses methods for encapsulating high molecular weight nucleic acids in liposomes. U.S. Pat. No. 5,264,221 to Tagawa et al. discloses protein-bonded liposomes and asserts that the contents of such liposomes may include an antisense RNA. U.S. Pat. No. 5,665,710 to Rahman et al. describes certain methods of encapsulating oligodeoxynucleotides in liposomes. WO 97/04787 to Love et al. discloses liposomes comprising antisense oligonucleotides targeted to the raf gene.

Transfersomes are yet another type of liposomes, and are highly deformable lipid aggregates which are attractive candidates for drug delivery vehicles. Transfersomes may be described as lipid droplets which are so highly deformable that they are easily able to penetrate through pores which are smaller than the droplet. Transfersomes are adaptable to the environment in which they are used, e.g. they are self-optimizing (adaptive to the shape of pores in the skin), self-repairing, frequently reach their targets without fragmenting, and often self-loading. To make transfersomes it is possible to add surface edge-activators, usually surfactants, to a standard liposomal composition. Transfersomes have been used to deliver serum albumin to the skin. The transfersome-mediated delivery of serum albumin has been shown to be as effective as subcutaneous injection of a solution containing serum albumin.

Surfactants find wide application in formulations such as emulsions (including microemulsions) and liposomes. The most common way of classifying and ranking the properties of the many different types of surfactants, both natural and synthetic, is by the use of the hydrophile/lipophile balance (HLB). The nature of the hydrophilic group (also known as the “head”) provides the most useful means for categorizing the different surfactants used in formulations (Rieger, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., 1988, p. 285).

If the surfactant molecule is not ionized, it is classified as a nonionic surfactant. Nonionic surfactants find wide application in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products and are usable over a wide range of pH values. In general their HLB values range from 2 to about 18 depending on their structure. Nonionic surfactants include nonionic esters such as ethylene glycol esters, propylene glycol esters, glyceryl esters, polyglyceryl esters, sorbitan esters, sucrose esters, and ethoxylated esters. Nonionic alkanolamides and ethers such as fatty alcohol ethoxylates, propoxylated alcohols, and ethoxylated/propoxylated block polymers are also included in this class. The polyoxyethylene surfactants are the most popular members of the nonionic surfactant class.

If the surfactant molecule carries a negative charge when it is dissolved or dispersed in water, the surfactant is classified as anionic. Anionic surfactants include carboxylates such as soaps, acyl lactylates, acyl amides of amino acids, esters of sulfuric acid such as alkyl sulfates and ethoxylated alkyl sulfates, sulfonates such as alkyl benzene sulfonates, acyl isethionates, acyl taurates and sulfosuccinates, and phosphates. The most important members of the anionic surfactant class are the alkyl sulfates and the soaps.

If the surfactant molecule carries a positive charge when it is dissolved or dispersed in water, the surfactant is classified as cationic. Cationic surfactants include quaternary ammonium salts and ethoxylated amines. The quaternary ammonium salts are the most used members of this class.

If the surfactant molecule has the ability to carry either a positive or negative charge, the surfactant is classified as amphoteric. Amphoteric surfactants include acrylic acid derivatives, substituted alkylamides, N-alkylbetaines and phosphatides.

The use of surfactants in drug products, formulations and in emulsions has been reviewed (Rieger, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., 1988, p. 285).

Penetration Enhancers

In one embodiment, the present invention employs various penetration enhancers to effect the efficient delivery of nucleic acids, particularly oligonucleotides, to the skin of animals. Most drugs are present in solution in both ionized and nonionized forms. However, usually only lipid soluble or lipophilic drugs readily cross cell membranes. It has been discovered that even non-lipophilic drugs may cross cell membranes if the membrane to be crossed is treated with a penetration enhancer. In addition to aiding the diffusion of non-lipophilic drugs across cell membranes, penetration enhancers also enhance the permeability of lipophilic drugs.

Penetration enhancers may be classified as belonging to one of five broad categories, i.e., surfactants, fatty acids, bile salts, chelating agents, and non-chelating non-surfactants (Lee et al., Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1991, p.92). Each of the above mentioned classes of penetration enhancers are described below in greater detail.

Surfactants: In connection with the present invention, surfactants (or “surface-active agents”) are chemical entities which, when dissolved in an aqueous solution, reduce the surface tension of the solution or the interfacial tension between the aqueous solution and another liquid, with the result that absorption of oligonucleotides through the mucosa is enhanced. In addition to bile salts and fatty acids, these penetration enhancers include, for example, sodium lauryl sulfate, polyoxyethylene-9-lauryl ether and polyoxyethylene-20-cetyl ether) (Lee et al., Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1991, p.92); and perfluorochemical emulsions, such as FC-43. Takahashi et al., J. Pharm. Pharmacol., 1988, 40, 252).

Fatty acids: Various fatty acids and their derivatives which act as penetration enhancers include, for example, oleic acid, lauric acid, capric acid (n-decanoic acid), myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, dicaprate, tricaprate, monoolein (1-monooleoyl-rac-glycerol), dilaurin, caprylic acid, arachidonic acid, glycerol 1-monocaprate, 1-dodecylazacycloheptan-2-one, acylcarnitines, acylcholines, C₁₋₁₀ alkyl esters thereof (e.g., methyl, isopropyl and t-butyl), and mono- and di-glycerides thereof (i.e., oleate, laurate, caprate, myristate, palpitate, stearate, linoleate, etc.) (Lee et al., Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1991, p.92; Muranishi, Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1990, 7, 1-33; El Hariri et al., J. Pharm. Pharmacol., 1992, 44, 651-654).

Bile salts: The physiological role of bile includes the facilitation of dispersion and absorption of lipids and fat-soluble vitamins (Brunton, Chapter 38 in: Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 9th Ed., Hardman et al. Eds., McGraw-Hill, New York, 1996, pp. 934-935). Various natural bile salts, and their synthetic derivatives, act as penetration enhancers. Thus the term “bile salts” includes any of the naturally occurring components of bile as well as any of their synthetic derivatives. The bile salts of the invention include, for example, cholic acid (or its pharmaceutically acceptable sodium salt, sodium cholate), dehydrocholic acid (sodium dehydrocholate), deoxycholic acid (sodium deoxycholate), glucholic acid (sodium glucholate), glycholic acid (sodium glycocholate), glycodeoxycholic acid (sodium glycodeoxycholate), taurocholic acid (sodium taurocholate), taurodeoxycholic acid (sodium taurodeoxycholate), chenodeoxycholic acid (sodium chenodeoxycholate), ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), sodium tauro-24,25-dihydro-fusidate (STDHF), sodium glycodihydrofusidate and polyoxyethylene-9-lauryl ether (POE) (Lee et al., Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1991, page 92; Swinyard, Chapter 39 In: Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 18th Ed., Gennaro, ed., Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa., 1990, pages 782-783; Muranishi, Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1990, 7, 1-33; Yamamoto et al., J. Pharm. Exp. Ther., 1992, 263, 25; Yamashita et al., J. Pharm. Sci., 1990, 79, 579-583).

Chelating Agents: Chelating agents, as used in connection with the present invention, can be defined as compounds that remove metallic ions from solution by forming complexes therewith, with the result that absorption of oligonucleotides through the mucosa is enhanced. With regards to their use as penetration enhancers in the present invention, chelating agents have the added advantage of also serving as DNase inhibitors, as most characterized DNA nucleases require a divalent metal ion for catalysis and are thus inhibited by chelating agents (Jarrett, J. Chromatogr., 1993, 618, 315-339). Chelating agents of the invention include but are not limited to disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA), citric acid, salicylates (e.g., sodium salicylate, 5-methoxysalicylate and homovanilate), N-acyl derivatives of collagen, laureth-9 and N-amino acyl derivatives of beta-diketones (enamines) (Lee et al., Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1991, page 92; Muranishi, Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1990, 7, 1-33; Buur et al., J. Control Rel., 1990, 14, 43-51).

Non-chelating non-surfactants: As used herein, non-chelating non-surfactant penetration enhancing compounds can be defined as compounds that demonstrate insignificant activity as chelating agents or as surfactants but that nonetheless enhance absorption of oligonucleotides through the alimentary mucosa (Muranishi, Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1990, 7, 1-33). This class of penetration enhancers include, for example, unsaturated cyclic ureas, 1-alkyl- and 1-alkenylazacyclo-alkanone derivatives (Lee et al., Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1991, page 92); and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents such as diclofenac sodium, indomethacin and phenylbutazone (Yamashita et al., J. Pharm. Pharmacol., 1987, 39, 621-626).

Agents that enhance uptake of oligonucleotides at the cellular level may also be added to the pharmaceutical and other compositions of the present invention. For example, cationic lipids, such as lipofectin (Junichi et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,705,188), cationic glycerol derivatives, and polycationic molecules, such as polylysine (Lollo et al., PCT Application WO 97/30731), are also known to enhance the cellular uptake of oligonucleotides.

Other agents may be utilized to enhance the penetration of the administered nucleic acids, including glycols such as ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, pyrrols such as 2-pyrrol, azones, and terpenes such as limonene and menthone.

Carriers

Certain compositions of the present invention also incorporate carrier compounds in the formulation. As used herein, “carrier compound” or “carrier” can refer to a nucleic acid, or analog thereof, which is inert (i.e., does not possess biological activity per se) but is recognized as a nucleic acid by in vivo processes that reduce the bioavailability of a nucleic acid having biological activity by, for example, degrading the biologically active nucleic acid or promoting its removal from circulation. The coadministration of a nucleic acid and a carrier compound, typically with an excess of the latter substance, can result in a substantial reduction of the amount of nucleic acid recovered in the liver, kidney or other extracirculatory reservoirs, presumably due to competition between the carrier compound and the nucleic acid for a common receptor. For example, the recovery of a partially phosphorothioate oligonucleotide in hepatic tissue can be reduced when it is coadministered with polyinosinic acid, dextran sulfate, polycytidic acid or 4-acetamido-4′isothiocyano-stilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid (Miyao et al., Antisense Res. Dev., 1995, 5, 115-121; Takakura et al., Antisense & Nucl. Acid Drug Dev., 1996, 6, 177-183).

Excipients

In contrast to a carrier compound, a “pharmaceutical carrier” or “excipient” is a pharmaceutically acceptable solvent, suspending agent or any other pharmacologically inert vehicle for delivering one or more nucleic acids to an animal. The excipient may be liquid or solid and is selected, with the planned manner of administration in mind, so as to provide for the desired bulk, consistency, etc., when combined with a nucleic acid and the other components of a given pharmaceutical composition. Typical pharmaceutical carriers include, but are not limited to, binding agents (e.g., pregelatinized maize starch, polyvinylpyrrolidone or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, etc.); fillers (e.g., lactose and other sugars, microcrystalline cellulose, pectin, gelatin, calcium sulfate, ethyl cellulose, polyacrylates or calcium hydrogen phosphate, etc.); lubricants (e.g., magnesium stearate, talc, silica, colloidal silicon dioxide, stearic acid, metallic stearates, hydrogenated vegetable oils, corn starch, polyethylene glycols, sodium benzoate, sodium acetate, etc.); disintegrants (e.g., starch, sodium starch glycolate, etc.); and wetting agents (e.g., sodium lauryl sulphate, etc.).

Pharmaceutically acceptable organic or inorganic excipient suitable for non-parenteral administration which do not deleteriously react with nucleic acids can also be used to formulate the compositions of the present invention. Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include, but are not limited to, water, salt solutions, alcohols, polyethylene glycols, gelatin, lactose, amylose, magnesium stearate, talc, silicic acid, viscous paraffin, hydroxymethylcellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone and the like.

Formulations for topical administration of nucleic acids may include sterile and non-sterile aqueous solutions, non-aqueous solutions in common solvents such as alcohols, or solutions of the nucleic acids in liquid or solid oil bases. The solutions may also contain buffers, diluents and other suitable additives. Pharmaceutically acceptable organic or inorganic excipients suitable for non-parenteral administration which do not deleteriously react with nucleic acids can be used.

Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable excipients include, but are not limited to, water, salt solutions, alcohol, polyethylene glycols, gelatin, lactose, amylose, magnesium stearate, talc, silicic acid, viscous paraffin, hydroxymethylcellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone and the like.

Other Components

The compositions of the present invention may additionally contain other adjunct components conventionally found in pharmaceutical compositions, at their art-established usage levels. Thus, for example, the compositions may contain additional, compatible, pharmaceutically-active materials such as, for example, antipruritics, astringents, local anesthetics or anti-inflammatory agents, or may contain additional materials useful in physically formulating various dosage forms of the compositions of the present invention, such as dyes, flavoring agents, preservatives, antioxidants, opacifiers, thickening agents and stabilizers. However, such materials, when added, should not unduly interfere with the biological activities of the components of the compositions of the present invention. The formulations can be sterilized and, if desired, mixed with auxiliary agents, e.g., lubricants, preservatives, stabilizers, wetting agents, emulsifiers, salts for influencing osmotic pressure, buffers, colorings, flavorings and/or aromatic substances and the like which do not deleteriously interact with the nucleic acid(s) of the formulation.

Aqueous suspensions may contain substances which increase the viscosity of the suspension including, for example, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, sorbitol and/or dextran. The suspension may also contain stabilizers.

Certain embodiments of the invention provide pharmaceutical compositions containing (a) one or more antisense compounds and (b) one or more other chemotherapeutic agents which function by a non-antisense mechanism. Examples of such chemotherapeutic agents include, but are not limited to, anticancer drugs such as daunorubicin, dactinomycin, doxorubicin, bleomycin, mitomycin, nitrogen mustard, chlorambucil, melphalan, cyclophosphamide, 6-mercaptopurine, 6-thioguanine, cytarabine (CA), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), floxuridine (5-FUdR), methotrexate (MTX), colchicine, vincristine, vinblastine, etoposide, teniposide, cisplatin and diethylstilbestrol (DES). See, generally, The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, 15th Ed., Berkow et al., eds., 1987, Rahway, N.J., pages 1206-1228). Anti-inflammatory drugs, including but not limited to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids, and antiviral drugs, including but not limited to ribivirin, vidarabine, acyclovir and ganciclovir, may also be combined in compositions of the invention. See, generally, The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, 15th Ed., Berkow et al., eds., 1987, Rahway, N.J., pages 2499-2506 and 46-49, respectively). Other non-antisense chemotherapeutic agents are also within the scope of this invention. Two or more combined compounds may be used together or sequentially.

In another related embodiment, compositions of the invention may contain one or more antisense compounds, particularly oligonucleotides, targeted to a first nucleic acid and one or more additional antisense compounds targeted to a second nucleic acid target. Numerous examples of antisense compounds are known in the art. Two or more combined compounds may be used together or sequentially.

The formulation of therapeutic compositions and their subsequent administration is believed to be within the skill of those in the art. Dosing is dependent on severity and responsiveness of the disease state to be treated, with the course of treatment lasting from several days to several months, or until a cure is effected or a diminution of the disease state is achieved. Optimal dosing schedules can be calculated from measurements of drug accumulation in the body of the patient. Persons of ordinary skill can easily determine optimum dosages, dosing methodologies and repetition rates. Optimum dosages may vary depending on the relative potency of individual oligonucleotides, and can generally be estimated based on EC₅₀s found to be effective in in vitro and in vivo animal models. In general, dosage is from 0.01 ug to 100 g per kg of body weight, and may be given once or more daily, weekly, monthly or yearly, or even once every 2 to 20 years. Persons of ordinary skill in the art can easily estimate repetition rates for dosing based on measured residence times and concentrations of the drug in bodily fluids or tissues. Following successful treatment, it may be desirable to have the patient undergo maintenance therapy to prevent the recurrence of the disease state, wherein the oligonucleotide is administered in maintenance doses, ranging from 0.01 ug to 100 g per kg of body weight, once or more daily, to once every 20 years.

While the present invention has been described with specificity in accordance with certain of its preferred embodiments, the following examples serve only to illustrate the invention and are not intended to limit the same.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Nucleoside Phosphoramidites for Oligonucleotide Synthesis Deoxy and 2′-alkoxy amidites

2′-Deoxy and 2′-methoxy beta-cyanoethyldiisopropyl phosphoramidites were purchased from commercial sources (e.g. Chemgenes, Needham Mass. or Glen Research, Inc. Sterling Va.). Other 2′-O-alkoxy substituted nucleoside amidites are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,506,351, herein incorporated by reference. For oligonucleotides synthesized using 2′-alkoxy amidites, the standard cycle for unmodified oligonucleotides was utilized, except the wait step after pulse delivery of tetrazole and base was increased to 360 seconds.

Oligonucleotides containing 5-methyl-2′-deoxycytidine (5-Me-C) nucleotides were synthesized according to published methods [Sanghvi, et. al., Nucleic Acids Research, 1993, 21, 3197-3203] using commercially available phosphoramidites (Glen Research, Sterling Va. or ChemGenes, Needham Mass.).

2′-Fluoro amidites

2′-Fluorodeoxyadenosine amidites

2′-fluoro oligonucleotides were synthesized as described previously [Kawasaki, et. al., J. Med. Chem., 1993, 36, 831-841] and U.S. Pat. No. 5,670,633, herein incorporated by reference. Briefly, the protected nucleoside N6-benzoyl-2′-deoxy-2′-fluoroadenosine was synthesized utilizing commercially available 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyladenine as starting material and by modifying literature procedures whereby the 2′-alpha-fluoro atom is introduced by a S_(N)2-displacement of a 2′-beta-trityl group. Thus N6-benzoyl-9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyladenine was selectively protected in moderate yield as the 3′,5′-ditetrahydropyranyl (THP) intermediate. Deprotection of the THP and N6-benzoyl groups was accomplished using standard methodologies and standard methods were used to obtain the 5′-dimethoxytrityl-(DMT) and 5′-DMT-3′-phosphoramidite intermediates.

2′-Fluorodeoxyguanosine

The synthesis of 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoroguanosine was accomplished using tetraisopropyldisiloxanyl (TPDS) protected 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosylguanine as starting material, and conversion to the intermediate diisobutyryl-arabinofuranosylguanosine. Deprotection of the TPDS group was followed by protection of the hydroxyl group with THP to give diisobutyryl di-THP protected arabinofuranosylguanine. Selective O-deacylation and triflation was followed by treatment of the crude product with fluoride, then deprotection of the THP groups. Standard methodologies were used to obtain the 5′-DMT- and 5′-DMT-3′-phosphoramidites.

2′-Fluorouridine

Synthesis of 2′-deoxy-2′-fluorouridine was accomplished by the modification of a literature procedure in which 2,2′-anhydro-1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyluracil was treated with 70% hydrogen fluoride-pyridine. Standard procedures were used to obtain the 5′-DMT and 5′-DMT-3′phosphoramidites.

2′-Fluorodeoxycytidine

2′-deoxy-2′-fluorocytidine was synthesized via amination of 2′-deoxy-2′-fluorouridine, followed by selective protection to give N4-benzoyl-2′-deoxy-2′-fluorocytidine. Standard procedures were used to obtain the 5′-DMT and 5′-DMT-3′phosphoramidites.

2′-O-(2-Methoxyethyl) modified amidites

2′-O-Methoxyethyl-substituted nucleoside amidites are prepared as follows, or alternatively, as per the methods of Martin, P., Helvetica Chimica Acta, 1995, 78, 486-504.

2,2′-Anhydro[1-(beta-D-arabinofuranosyl)-5-methyluridine]

5-Methyluridine (ribosylthymine, commercially available through Yamasa, Choshi, Japan) (72.0 g, 0.279 M), diphenylcarbonate (90.0 g, 0.420 M) and sodium bicarbonate (2.0 g, 0.024 M) were added to DMF (300 mL). The mixture was heated to reflux, with stirring, allowing the evolved carbon dioxide gas to be released in a controlled manner. After 1 hour, the slightly darkened solution was concentrated under reduced pressure. The resulting syrup was poured into diethylether (2.5 L), with stirring. The product formed a gum. The ether was decanted and the residue was dissolved in a minimum amount of methanol (ca. 400 mL). The solution was poured into fresh ether (2.5 L) to yield a stiff gum. The ether was decanted and the gum was dried in a vacuum oven (60° C. at 1 mm Hg for 24 h) to give a solid that was crushed to a light tan powder (57 g, 85% crude yield). The NMR spectrum was consistent with the structure, contaminated with phenol as its sodium salt (ca. 5%). The material was used as is for further reactions (or it can be purified further by column chromatography using a gradient of methanol in ethyl acetate (10-25%) to give a white solid, mp 222-4° C.).

2′-O-Methoxyethyl-5-methyluridine

2,2′-Anhydro-5-methyluridine (195 g, 0.81 M), tris(2-methoxyethyl)borate (231 g, 0.98 M) and 2-methoxyethanol (1.2 L) were added to a 2 L stainless steel pressure vessel and placed in a pre-heated oil bath at 160° C. After heating for 48 hours at 155-160° C., the vessel was opened and the solution evaporated to dryness and triturated with MeOH (200 mL). The residue was suspended in hot acetone (1 L). The insoluble salts were filtered, washed with acetone (150 mL) and the filtrate evaporated. The residue (280 g) was dissolved in CH₃CN (600 mL) and evaporated. A silica gel column (3 kg) was packed in CH₂Cl₂/acetone/MeOH (20:5:3) containing 0.5% Et₃NH. The residue was dissolved in CH₂Cl₂ (250 mL) and adsorbed onto silica (150 g) prior to loading onto the column. The product was eluted with the packing solvent to give 160 g (63%) of product. Additional material was obtained by reworking impure fractions.

2′-O-Methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methyluridine

2′-O-Methoxyethyl-5-methyluridine (160 g, 0.506 M) was co-evaporated with pyridine (250 mL) and the dried residue dissolved in pyridine (1.3 L). A first aliquot of dimethoxytrityl chloride (94.3 g, 0.278 M) was added and the mixture stirred at room temperature for one hour. A second aliquot of dimethoxytrityl chloride (94.3 g, 0.278 M) was added and the reaction stirred for an additional one hour. Methanol (170 mL) was then added to stop the reaction. HPLC showed the presence of approximately 70% product. The solvent was evaporated and triturated with CH₃CN (200 mL). The residue was dissolved in CHCl₃ (1.5 L) and extracted with 2×500 mL of saturated NaHCO and 2×500 mL of saturated NaCl. The organic phase was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and evaporated. 275 g of residue was obtained. The residue was purified on a 3.5 kg silica gel column, packed and eluted with EtOAc/hexane/acetone (5:5:1) containing 0.5% Et₃NH. The pure fractions were evaporated to give 164 g of product. Approximately 20 g additional was obtained from the impure fractions to give a total yield of 183 g (57%).

3′-O-Acetyl-2′-O-methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methyluridine

2′-O-Methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methyluridine (106 g, 0.167 M), DMF/pyridine (750 mL of a 3:1 mixture prepared from 562 mL of DMF and 188 mL of pyridine) and acetic anhydride (24.38 mL, 0.258 M) were combined and stirred at room temperature for 24 hours. The reaction was monitored by TLC by first quenching the TLC sample with the addition of MeOH. Upon completion of the reaction, as judged by TLC, MeOH (50 mL) was added and the mixture evaporated at 35° C. The residue was dissolved in CHCl₃ (800 mL) and extracted with 2×200 mL of saturated sodium bicarbonate and 2×200 mL of saturated NaCl. The water layers were back extracted with 200 mL of CHCl₃. The combined organics were dried with sodium sulfate and evaporated to give 122 g of residue (approx. 90% product). The residue was purified on a 3.5 kg silica gel column and eluted using EtOAc/hexane(4:1). Pure product fractions were evaporated to yield 96 g (84%). An additional 1.5 g was recovered from later fractions.

3′-O-Acetyl-2′-O-methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methyl-4-triazoleuridine

A first solution was prepared by dissolving 3′-O-acetyl-2′-O-methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methyluridine (96 g, 0.144 M) in CH₃CN (700 mL) and set aside. Triethylamine (189 mL, 1.44 M) was added to a solution of triazole (90 g, 1.3 M) in CH₃CN (1 L), cooled to −5° C. and stirred for 0.5 h using an overhead stirrer. POCl₃ was added dropwise, over a 30 minute period, to the stirred solution maintained at 0-10° C., and the resulting mixture stirred for an additional 2 hours. The first solution was added dropwise, over a 45 minute period, to the latter solution. The resulting reaction mixture was stored overnight in a cold room. Salts were filtered from the reaction mixture and the solution was evaporated. The residue was dissolved in EtOAc (1 L) and the insoluble solids were removed by filtration. The filtrate was washed with 1×300 mL of NaHCO₃ and 2×300 mL of saturated NaCl, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated. The residue was triturated with EtOAc to give the title compound.

2′-O-Methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methylcytidine

A solution of 3′-O-acetyl-2′-O-methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methyl-4-triazoleuridine (103 g, 0.141 M) in dioxane (500 mL) and NH₄OH (30 mL) was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. The dioxane solution was evaporated and the residue azeotroped with MeOH (2×200 mL). The residue was dissolved in MeOH (300 mL) and transferred to a 2 liter stainless steel pressure vessel. MeOH (400 mL) saturated with NH₃ gas was added and the vessel heated to 100° C. for 2 hours (TLC showed complete conversion). The vessel contents were evaporated to dryness and the residue was dissolved in EtOAc (500 mL) and washed once with saturated NaCl (200 mL). The organics were dried over sodium sulfate and the solvent was evaporated to give 85 g (95%) of the title compound.

N4-Benzoyl-2′-O-methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methylcytidine

2′-O-Methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methylcytidine (85 g, 0.134 M) was dissolved in DMF (800 mL) and benzoic anhydride (37.2 g, 0.165 M) was added with stirring. After stirring for 3 hours, TLC showed the reaction to be approximately 95% complete. The solvent was evaporated and the residue azeotroped with MeOH (200 mL). The residue was dissolved in CHCl₃ (700 mL) and extracted with saturated NaHCO₃ (2×300 mL) and saturated NaCl (2×300 mL), dried over MgSO₄ and evaporated to give a residue (96 g). The residue was chromatographed on a 1.5 kg silica column using EtOAc/hexane (1:1) containing 0.5% Et₃NH as the eluting solvent. The pure product fractions were evaporated to give 90 g (90%) of the title compound.

N4-Benzoyl-2′-O-methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methylcytidine-3′-amidite

N4-Benzoyl-2′-O-methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methylcytidine (74 g, 0.10 M) was dissolved in CH₂Cl₂ (1 L). Tetrazole diisopropylamine (7.1 g) and 2-cyanoethoxy-tetra-(isopropyl)phosphite (40.5 mL, 0.123 M) were added with stirring, under a nitrogen atmosphere. The resulting mixture was stirred for 20 hours at room temperature (TLC showed the reaction to be 95% complete). The reaction mixture was extracted with saturated NaHCO₃ (1×300 mL) and saturated NaCl (3×300 mL). The aqueous washes were back-extracted with CH₂Cl₂ (300 mL), and the extracts were combined, dried over MgSO, and concentrated. The residue obtained was chromatographed on a 1.5 kg silica column using EtOAc/hexane (3:1) as the eluting solvent. The pure fractions were combined to give 90.6 g (87%) of the title compound.

2′-O-(Aminooxyethyl) nucleoside amidites and 2′-O-(dimethylaminooxyethyl) nucleoside amidites

2′-(Dimethylaminooxyethoxy) nucleoside amidites

2′-(Dimethylaminooxyethoxy) nucleoside amidites [also known in the art as 2′-O-(dimethylaminooxyethyl) nucleoside amidites] are prepared as described in the following paragraphs. Adenosine, cytidine and guanosine nucleoside amidites are prepared similarly to the thymidine (5-methyluridine) except the exocyclic amines are protected with a benzoyl moiety in the case of adenosine and cytidine and with isobutyryl in the case of guanosine.

5′-O-tert-Butyldiphenylsilyl-O²-2′-anhydro-5-methyluridine

O²-2′-anhydro-5-methyluridine (Pro. Bio. Sint., Varese, Italy, 100.0 g, 0.416 mmol), dimethylaminopyridine (0.66 g, 0.013 eq, 0.0054 mmol) were dissolved in dry pyridine (500 ml) at ambient temperature under an argon atmosphere and with mechanical stirring. tert-Butyldiphenylchlorosilane (125.8 g, 119.0 mL, 1.1 eq, 0.458 mmol) was added in one portion. The reaction was stirred for 16 h at ambient temperature. TLC (Rf 0.22, ethyl acetate) indicated a complete reaction. The solution was concentrated under reduced pressure to a thick oil. This was partitioned between dichloromethane (1 L) and saturated sodium bicarbonate (2×1 L) and brine (1 L). The organic layer was dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure to a thick oil. The oil was dissolved in a 1:1 mixture of ethyl acetate and ethyl ether (600 mL) and the solution was cooled to −10° C. The resulting crystalline product was collected by filtration, washed with ethyl ether (3×200 mL) and dried (40° C., 1 mm Hg, 24 h) to 149 g (74.8%) of white solid. TLC and NMR were consistent with pure product.

5′-O-tert-Butyldiphenylsilyl-2′-O-(2-hydroxyethyl)-5-methyluridine

In a 2 L stainless steel, unstirred pressure reactor was added borane in tetrahydrofuran (1.0 M, 2.0 eq, 622 mL). In the fume hood and with manual stirring, ethylene glycol (350 mL, excess) was added cautiously at first until the evolution of hydrogen gas subsided. 5′-O-tert-Butyldiphenylsilyl-O²-2′-anhydro-5-methyluridine (149 g, 0.311 mol) and sodium bicarbonate (0.074 g, 0.003 eq) were added with manual stirring. The reactor was sealed and heated in an oil bath until an internal temperature of 160 ° C. was reached and then maintained for 16 h (pressure<100 psig). The reaction vessel was cooled to ambient and opened. TLC (Rf 0.67 for desired product and Rf 0.82 for ara-T side product, ethyl acetate) indicated about 70% conversion to the product. In order to avoid additional side product formation, the reaction was stopped, concentrated under reduced pressure (10 to 1 mm Hg) in a warm water bath (40-100° C.) with the more extreme conditions used to remove the ethylene glycol. [Alternatively, once the low boiling solvent is gone, the remaining solution can be partitioned between ethyl acetate and water. The product will be in the organic phase.] The residue was purified by column chromatography (2 kg silica gel, ethyl acetate-hexanes gradient 1:1 to 4:1). The appropriate fractions were combined, stripped and dried to product as a white crisp foam (84 g, 50%), contaminated starting material (17.4 g) and pure reusable starting material 20 g. The yield based on starting material less pure recovered starting material was 58%. TLC and NMR were consistent with 99% pure product.

2′-O-([2-phthalimidoxy)ethyl]-5′-t-butyldiphenylsilyl-5-methyluridine

5′-O-tert-Butyldiphenylsilyl-2′-O-(2-hydroxyethyl)-5-methyluridine (20 g, 36.98 mmol) was mixed with triphenylphosphine (11.63 g, 44.36 mmol) and N-hydroxyphthalimide (7.24 g, 44.36 mmol). It was then dried over P₂O₅ under high vacuum for two days at 40° C. The reaction mixture was flushed with argon and dry THF (369.8 mL, Aldrich, sure seal bottle) was added to get a clear solution. Diethyl-azodicarboxylate (6.98 mL, 44.36 mmol) was added dropwise to the reaction mixture. The rate of addition is maintained such that resulting deep red coloration is just discharged before adding the next drop. After the addition was complete, the reaction was stirred for 4 hrs. By that time TLC showed the completion of the reaction (ethylacetate:hexane, 60:40). The solvent was evaporated in vacuum. Residue obtained was placed on a flash column and eluted with ethyl acetate:hexane (60:40), to get 2′-O-([2-phthalimidoxy)ethyl]-5′-t-butyldiphenylsilyl-5-methyluridine as white foam (21.819 g, 86%).

5′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2′-O-[(2-formadoximinooxy)ethyl]-5-methyluridine

2′-O-([2-phthalimidoxy)ethyl]-5′-t-butyldiphenylsilyl-5-methyluridine (3.1 g, 4.5 mmol) was dissolved in dry CH₂Cl₂ (4.5 mL) and methylhydrazine (300 mL, 4.64 mmol) was added dropwise at −10° C. to 0° C. After 1 h the mixture was filtered, the filtrate was washed with ice cold CH₂Cl₂ and the combined organic phase was washed with water, brine and dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. The solution was concentrated to get 2′-O-(aminooxyethyl) thymidine, which was then dissolved in MeOH (67.5 mL). To this formaldehyde (20% aqueous solution, w/w, 1.1 eq.) was added and the resulting mixture was strirred for 1 h. Solvent was removed under vacuum; residue chromatographed to get 5′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2′-O-[(2-formadoximinooxy) ethyl]-5-methyluridine as white foam (1.95 g, 78%).

5′-O-tert-Butyldiphenylsilyl-2′-O-[N,N-dimethylaminooxyethyl]-5-methyluridine

5′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2′-O-[(2-formadoximinooxy)ethyl]-5-methyluridine (1.77 g, 3.12 mmol) was dissolved in a solution of 1M pyridinium p-toluenesulfonate (PPTS) in dry MeOH (30.6 mL). Sodium cyanoborohydride (0.39 g, 6.13 mmol) was added to this solution at 10° C. under inert atmosphere. The reaction mixture was stirred for 10 minutes at 10° C. After that the reaction vessel was removed from the ice bath and stirred at room temperature for 2 h, the reaction monitored by TLC (5% MeOH in CH₂Cl₂). Aqueous NaHCO₃ solution (5%, 10 mL) was added and extracted with ethyl acetate (2×20 mL). Ethyl acetate phase was dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, evaporated to dryness. Residue was dissolved in a solution of 1M PPTS in MeOH (30.6 mL). Formaldehyde (20% w/w, 30 mL, 3.37 mmol) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 10 minutes. Reaction mixture cooled to 10° C. in an ice bath, sodium cyanoborohydride (0.39 g, 6.13 mmol) was added and reaction mixture stirred at 10° C. for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, the reaction mixture was removed from the ice bath and stirred at room temperature for 2 hrs. To the reaction mixture 5% NaHCO₃ (25 mL) solution was added and extracted with ethyl acetate (2×25 mL). Ethyl acetate layer was dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and evaporated to dryness . The residue obtained was purified by flash column chromatography and eluted with 5% MeOH in CH₂Cl₂ to get 5′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2′-O-[N,N-dimethylaminooxyethyl]-5-methyluridine as a white foam (14.6 g, 80%).

2′-O-(dimethylaminooxyethyl)-5-methyluridine

Triethylamine trihydrofluoride (3.91 mL, 24.0 mmol) was dissolved in dry THF and triethylamine (1.67 mL, 12 mmol, dry, kept over KOH). This mixture of triethylamine-2HF was then added to 5′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2′-O-[N,N-dimethylaminooxyethyl]-5-methyluridine (1.40 g, 2.4 mmol) and stirred at room temperature for 24 hrs. Reaction was monitored by TLC (5% MeOH in CH₂Cl₂). Solvent was removed under vacuum and the residue placed on a flash column and eluted with 10% MeOH in CH₂Cl₂ to get 2′-O-(dimethylaminooxyethyl)-5-methyluridine (766 mg, 92.5%).

5′-O-DMT-2′-O-(dimethylaminooxyethyl)-5-methyluridine

2′-O-(dimethylaminooxyethyl)-5-methyluridine (750 mg, 2.17 mmol) was dried over P₂O₅ under high vacuum overnight at 40° C. It was then co-evaporated with anhydrous pyridine (20 mL). The residue obtained was dissolved in pyridine (11 mL) under argon atmosphere. 4-dimethylaminopyridine (26.5 mg, 2.60 mmol), 4,4′-dimethoxytrityl chloride (880 mg, 2.60 mmol) was added to the mixture and the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature until all of the starting material disappeared. Pyridine was removed under vacuum and the residue chromatographed and eluted with 10% MeOH in CH₂Cl₂ (containing a few drops of pyridine) to get 5′-O-DMT-2′-O-(dimethylamino-oxyethyl)-5-methyluridine (1.13 g, 80%).

5′-O-DMT-2′-O-(2-N,N-dimethylaminooxyethyl)-5-methyluridine-3′-[(2-cyanoethyl)-N,N-diisopropylphosphoramidite]

5′-O-DMT-2′-O-(dimethylaminooxyethyl)-5-methyluridine (1.08 g, 1.67 mmol) was co-evaporated with toluene (20 mL). To the residue N,N-diisopropylamine tetrazonide (0.29 g, 1.67 mmol) was added and dried over P₂O₅ under high vacuum overnight at 40° C. Then the reaction mixture was dissolved in anhydrous acetonitrile (8.4 mL) and 2-cyanoethyl-N,N,N¹,N¹-tetraisopropylphosphoramidite (2.12 mL, 6.08 mmol) was added. The reaction mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 4 hrs under inert atmosphere. The progress of the reaction was monitored by TLC (hexane:ethyl acetate 1:1). The solvent was evaporated, then the residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate (70 mL) and washed with 5% aqueous NaHCO₃ (40 mL). Ethyl acetate layer was dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. Residue obtained was chromatographed (ethyl acetate as eluent) to get 5′-O-DMT-2′-O-(2-N,N-dimethylaminooxyethyl)-5-methyluridine-3′-[(2-cyanoethyl)-N,N-diisopropylphosphoramidite] as a foam (1.04 g, 74.9%).

2′-(Aminooxyethoxy) nucleoside amidites

2′-(Aminooxyethoxy) nucleoside amidites [also known in the art as 2′-O-(aminooxyethyl) nucleoside amidites] are prepared as described in the following paragraphs. Adenosine, cytidine and thymidine nucleoside amidites are prepared similarly.

N2-isobutyryl-6-O-diphenylcarbamoyl-2′-O-(2-ethylacetyl)-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl) guanosine-3′-[(2-cyanoethyl)-N,N-diisopropylphosphoramidite]

The 2′-O-aminooxyethyl guanosine analog may be obtained by selective 2′-O-alkylation of diaminopurine riboside. Multigram quantities of diaminopurine riboside may be purchased from Schering AG (Berlin) to provide 2′-O-(2-ethylacetyl) diaminopurine riboside along with a minor amount of the 3′-O-isomer. 2′-O-(2-ethylacetyl) diaminopurine riboside may be resolved and converted to 2′-O-(2-ethylacetyl)guanosine by treatment with adenosine deaminase. (McGee, D. P. C., Cook, P. D., Guinosso, C. J., WO 94/02501 A1 940203.) Standard protection procedures should afford 2′-O-(2-ethylacetyl)-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)guanosine and 2-N-isobutyryl-6-O-diphenylcarbamoyl-2′-O-(2-ethylacetyl)-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)guanosine which may be reduced to provide 2-N-isobutyryl-6-O-diphenylcarbamoyl-2′-O-(2-ethylacetyl)-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)guanosine. As before the hydroxyl group may be displaced by N-hydroxyphthalimide via a Mitsunobu reaction, and the protected nucleoside may phosphitylated as usual to yield 2-N-isobutyryl-6-O-diphenylcarbamoyl-2′-O-(2-ethylacetyl)-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)guanosine-3′-[(2-cyanoethyl)-N,N-diisopropylphosphoramidite].

2′-dimethylaminoethoxyethoxy (2′-DMAEOE) nucleoside amidites

2′-dimethylaminoethoxyethoxy nucleoside amidites (also known in the art as 2′-O-dimethylaminoethoxyethyl, i.e., 2′-O—CH₂—O—CH₂—N(CH₂)₂, or 2′-DMAEOE nucleoside amidites) are prepared as follows. Other nucleoside amidites are prepared similarly.

2′-O-[2(2-N,N-dimethylaminoethoxy)ethyl]-5-methyl uridine

2[2-(Dimethylamino)ethoxy]ethanol (Aldrich, 6.66 g, 50 mmol) is slowly added to a solution of borane in tetrahydrofuran (1 M, 10 mL, 10 mmol) with stirring in a 100 mL bomb. Hydrogen gas evolves as the solid dissolves. O²-,2′-anhydro-5-methyluridine (1.2 g, 5 mmol), and sodium bicarbonate (2.5 mg) are added and the bomb is sealed, placed in an oil bath and heated to 155° C. for 26 hours. The bomb is cooled to room temperature and opened. The crude solution is concentrated and the residue partitioned between water (200 mL) and hexanes (200 mL). The excess phenol is extracted into the hexane layer. The aqueous layer is extracted with ethyl acetate (3×200 mL) and the combined organic layers are washed once with water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated. The residue is columned on silica gel using methanol/methylene chloride 1:20 (which has 2% triethylamine) as the eluent. As the column fractions are concentrated a colorless solid forms which is collected to give the title compound as a white solid.

5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-2′-O-[2(2-N,N-dimethylaminoethoxy) ethyl)]-5-methyl uridine

To 0.5 g (1.3 mmol) of 2′-O-[2(2-N,N-dimethylaminoethoxy)ethyl)]-5-methyl uridine in anhydrous pyridine (8 mL), triethylamine (0.36 mL) and dimethoxytrityl chloride (DMT-Cl, 0.87 g, 2 eq.) are added and stirred for 1 hour. The reaction mixture is poured into water (200 mL) and extracted with CH₂Cl₂ (2×200 mL). The combined CH₂Cl₂ layers are washed with saturated NaHCO₃ solution, followed by saturated NaCl solution and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. Evaporation of the solvent followed by silica gel chromatography using MeOH:CH₂Cl₂:Et₃N (20:1, v/v, with 1% triethylamine) gives the title compound.

5′-O-Dimethoxytrityl-2′-O-[2(2-N,N-dimethylaminoethoxy)ethyl)]-5-methyl uridine-3′-O-(cyanoethyl-N,N-diisopropyl)phosphoramidite

Diisopropylaminotetrazolide (0.6 g) and 2-cyanoethoxy-N,N-diisopropyl phosphoramidite (1.1 mL, 2 eq.) are added to a solution of 5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-2′-O-[2(2-N,N-dimethylaminoethoxy)ethyl)]-5-methyluridine (2.17 g, 3 mmol) dissolved in CH₂Cl₂ (20 mL) under an atmosphere of argon. The reaction mixture is stirred overnight and the solvent evaporated. The resulting residue is purified by silica gel flash column chromatography with ethyl acetate as the eluent to give the title compound.

Example 2 Oligonucleotide Synthesis

Unsubstituted and substituted phosphodiester (P═O) oligonucleotides are synthesized on an automated DNA synthesizer (Applied Biosystems model 380B) using standard phosphoramidite chemistry with oxidation by iodine.

Phosphorothioates (P═S) are synthesized as for the phosphodiester oligonucleotides except the standard oxidation bottle was replaced by 0.2 M solution of 3H-1,2-benzodithiole-3-one 1,1-dioxide in acetonitrile for the stepwise thiation of the phosphite linkages. The thiation wait step was increased to 68 sec and was followed by the capping step. After cleavage from the CPG column and deblocking in concentrated ammonium hydroxide at 55° C. (18 h), the oligonucleotides were purified by precipitating twice with 2.5 volumes of ethanol from a 0.5 M NaCl solution.

Phosphinate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,508,270, herein incorporated by reference.

Alkyl phosphonate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,469,863, herein incorporated by reference.

3′-Deoxy-3′-methylene phosphonate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,610,289 or 5,625,050, herein incorporated by reference.

Phosphoramidite oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,256,775 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,878, herein incorporated by reference.

Alkylphosphonothioate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in published PCT applications PCT/US94/00902 and PCT/US93/06976 (published as WO 94/17093 and WO 94/02499, respectively), herein incorporated by reference.

3′-Deoxy-3′-amino phosphoramidate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,476,925, herein incorporated by reference.

Phosphotriester oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,023,243, herein incorporated by reference.

Borano phosphate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,130,302 and 5,177,198, both herein incorporated by reference.

Example 3 Oligonucleoside Synthesis

Methylenemethylimino linked oligonucleosides, also identified as MMI linked oligonucleosides, methylenedimethylhydrazo linked oligonucleosides, also identified as MDH linked oligonucleosides, and methylenecarbonylamino linked oligonucleosides, also identified as amide-3 linked oligonucleosides, and methyleneaminocarbonyl linked oligonucleosides, also identified as amide-4 linked oligonucleosides, as well as mixed backbone compounds having, for instance, alternating MMI and P═O or P═S linkages are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,378,825, 5,386,023, 5,489,677, 5,602,240 and 5,610,289, all of which are herein incorporated by reference.

Formacetal and thioformacetal linked oligonucleosides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,264,562 and 5,264,564, herein incorporated by reference.

Ethylene oxide linked oligonucleosides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,618, herein incorporated by reference.

Example 4 PNA Synthesis

Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are prepared in accordance with any of the various procedures referred to in Peptide Nucleic Acids (PNA): Synthesis, Properties and Potential Applications, Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 1996, 4, 5-23. They may also be prepared in accordance with U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,539,082, 5,700,922, and 5,719,262, herein incorporated by reference.

Example 5 Synthesis of Chimeric Oligonucleotides

Chimeric oligonucleotides, oligonucleosides or mixed oligonucleotides/oligonucleosides of the invention can be of several different types. These include a first type wherein the “gap” segment of linked nucleosides is positioned between 5′ and 3′ “wing” segments of linked nucleosides and a second “open end” type wherein the “gap” segment is located at either the 3′ or the 5′ terminus of the oligomeric compound. Oligonucleotides of the first type are also known in the art as “gapmers” or gapped oligonucleotides. Oligonucleotides of the second type are also known in the art as “hemimers” or “wingmers”.

[2′-O-Me]—[2′-deoxy]—[2′-O-Me] Chimeric Phosphorothioate Oligonucleotides

Chimeric oligonucleotides having 2′-O-alkyl phosphorothioate and 2′-deoxy phosphorothioate oligonucleotide segments are synthesized using an Applied Biosystems automated DNA synthesizer Model 380B, as above. Oligonucleotides are synthesized using the automated synthesizer and 2′-deoxy-5′-dimethoxytrityl-3′-O-phosphoramidite for the DNA portion and 5′-dimethoxytrityl-2′-O-methyl-3′-O-phosphoramidite for 5′ and 3′ wings. The standard synthesis cycle is modified by increasing the wait step after the delivery of tetrazole and base to 600 s repeated four times for RNA and twice for 2′-O-methyl. The fully protected oligonucleotide is cleaved from the support and the phosphate group is deprotected in 3:1 ammonia/ethanol at room temperature overnight then lyophilized to dryness. Treatment in methanolic ammonia for 24 hrs at room temperature is then done to deprotect all bases and sample was again lyophilized to dryness. The pellet is resuspended in 1M TBAF in THF for 24 hrs at room temperature to deprotect the 2′ positions. The reaction is then quenched with 1M TEAA and the sample is then reduced to ½ volume by rotovac before being desalted on a G25 size exclusion column. The oligo recovered is then analyzed spectrophotometrically for yield and for purity by capillary electrophoresis and by mass spectrometry.

[2′-O-(2-Methoxyethyl)]—[2′-deoxy]—[2′-O-(Methoxyethyl)] Chimeric Phosphorothioate Oligonucleotides

[2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl)]—[2′-deoxy]—[-2′-O-(methoxyethyl)] chimeric phosphorothioate oligonucleotides were prepared as per the procedure above for the 2′-O-methyl chimeric oligonucleotide, with the substitution of 2′-O-(methoxyethyl) amidites for the 2′-O-methyl amidites.

[2′-O-(2-Methoxyethyl)Phosphodiester]—[2′-deoxy Phosphorothioate]—[2′-O-(2-Methoxyethyl) Phosphodiester] Chimeric Oligonucleotides

[2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl phosphodiester]—[2′-deoxy phosphorothioate]—[2′-O-(methoxyethyl) phosphodiester] chimeric oligonucleotides are prepared as per the above procedure for the 2′-O-methyl chimeric oligonucleotide with the substitution of 2′-O-(methoxyethyl) amidites for the 2′-O-methyl amidites, oxidization with iodine to generate the phosphodiester internucleotide linkages within the wing portions of the chimeric structures and sulfurization utilizing 3,H-1,2 benzodithiole-3-one 1,1 dioxide (Beaucage Reagent) to generate the phosphorothioate internucleotide linkages for the center gap.

Other chimeric oligonucleotides, chimeric oligonucleosides and mixed chimeric oligonucleotides/oligonucleosides are synthesized according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,623,065, herein incorporated by reference.

Example 6 Oligonucleotide Isolation

After cleavage from the controlled pore glass column (Applied Biosystems) and deblocking in concentrated ammonium hydroxide at 55° C. for 18 hours, the oligonucleotides or oligonucleosides are purified by precipitation twice out of 0.5 M NaCl with 2.5 volumes ethanol. Synthesized oligonucleotides were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis on denaturing gels and judged to be at least 85% full length material. The relative amounts of phosphorothioate and phosphodiester linkages obtained in synthesis were periodically checked by ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and for some studies oligonucleotides were purified by HPLC, as described by Chiang et al., J. Biol. Chem. 1991, 266, 18162-18171. Results obtained with HPLC-purified material were similar to those obtained with non-HPLC purified material.

Example 7 Oligonucleotide Synthesis—96 Well Plate Format

Oligonucleotides were synthesized via solid phase P(III) phosphoramidite chemistry on an automated synthesizer capable of assembling 96 sequences simultaneously in a standard 96 well format. Phosphodiester internucleotide linkages were afforded by oxidation with aqueous iodine. Phosphorothioate internucleotide linkages were generated by sulfurization utilizing 3,H-1,2 benzodithiole-3-one 1,1 dioxide (Beaucage Reagent) in anhydrous acetonitrile. Standard base-protected beta-cyanoethyldiisopropyl phosphoramidites were purchased from commercial vendors (e.g. PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif., or Pharmacia, Piscataway, N.J.). Non-standard nucleosides are synthesized as per known literature or patented methods. They are utilized as base protected beta-cyanoethyldiisopropyl phosphoramidites.

Oligonucleotides were cleaved from support and deprotected with concentrated NH₄OH at elevated temperature (55-60° C.) for 12-16 hours and the released product then dried in vacuo. The dried product was then re-suspended in sterile water to afford a master plate from which all analytical and test plate samples are then diluted utilizing robotic pipettors.

Example 8 Oligonucleotide Analysis—96 Well Plate Format

The concentration of oligonucleotide in each well was assessed by dilution of samples and UV absorption spectroscopy. The full-length integrity of the individual products was evaluated by capillary electrophoresis (CE) in either the 96 well format (Beckman P/ACE™ MDQ) or, for individually prepared samples, on a commercial CE apparatus (e.g., Beckman P/ACE™ 5000, ABI 270). Base and backbone composition was confirmed by mass analysis of the compounds utilizing electrospray-mass spectroscopy. All assay test plates were diluted from the master plate using single and multi-channel robotic pipettors. Plates were judged to be acceptable if at least 85% of the compounds on the plate were at least 85% full length.

Example 9 Cell Culture and Oligonucleotide Treatment

The effect of antisense compounds on target nucleic acid expression can be tested in any of a variety of cell types provided that the target nucleic acid is present at measurable levels. This can be routinely determined using, for example, PCR or Northern blot analysis. The following 5 cell types are provided for illustrative purposes, but other cell types can be routinely used, provided that the target is expressed in the cell type chosen. This can be readily determined by methods routine in the art, for example Northern blot analysis, Ribonuclease protection assays, or RT-PCR.

T-24 cells:

The human transitional cell bladder carcinoma cell line T-24 was obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) (Manassas, Va.). T-24 cells were routinely cultured in complete McCoy's 5A basal media (Gibco/Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md.) supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (Gibco/Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md.), penicillin 100 units per mL, and streptomycin 100 micrograms per mL (Gibco/Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md.). Cells were routinely passaged by trypsinization and dilution when they reached 90% confluence. Cells were seeded into 96-well plates (Falcon-Primaria #3872) at a density of 7000 cells/well for use in RT-PCR analysis.

For Northern blotting or other analysis, cells may be seeded onto 100 mm or other standard tissue culture plates and treated similarly, using appropriate volumes of medium and oligonucleotide.

A549 cells:

The human lung carcinoma cell line A549 was obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) (Manassas, Va.). A549 cells were routinely cultured in DMEM basal media (Gibco/Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md.) supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (Gibco/Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md.), penicillin 100 units per mL, and streptomycin 100 micrograms per mL (Gibco/Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md.). Cells were routinely passaged by trypsinization and dilution when they reached 90% confluence.

NHDF cells:

Human neonatal dermal fibroblast (NHDF) were obtained from the Clonetics Corporation (Walkersville Md.). NHDFs were routinely maintained in Fibroblast Growth Medium (Clonetics Corporation, Walkersville Md.) supplemented as recommended by the supplier. Cells were maintained for up to 10 passages as recommended by the supplier.

HEK cells:

Human embryonic keratinocytes (HEK) were obtained from the Clonetics Corporation (Walkersville Md.). HEKs were routinely maintained in Keratinocyte Growth Medium (Clonetics Corporation, Walkersville Md.) formulated as recommended by the supplier. Cells were routinely maintained for up to 10 passages as recommended by the supplier.

3T3-L1 cells:

The mouse embryonic adipocyte-like cell line 3T3-L1 was obtained from the American Type Culure Collection (Manassas, Va.). 3T3-L1 cells were routinely cultured in DMEM, high glucose (Gibco/Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md.) supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (Gibco/Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md.). Cells were routinely passaged by trypsinization and dilution when they reached 80% confluence. Cells were seeded into 96-well plates (Falcon-Primaria #3872) at a density of 4000 cells/well for use in RT-PCR analysis.

For Northern blotting or other analyses, cells may be seeded onto 100 mm or other standard tissue culture plates and treated similarly, using appropriate volumes of medium and oligonucleotide.

Treatment with antisense compounds:

When cells reached 80% confluency, they were treated with oligonucleotide. For cells grown in 96-well plates, wells were washed once with 200 μL OPTI-MEM™-1 reduced-serum medium (Gibco BRL) and then treated with 130 μL of OPTI-MEM™-1 containing 3.75 μg/mL LIPOFECTIN™ (Gibco BRL) and the desired concentration of oligonucleotide. After 4-7 hours of treatment, the medium was replaced with fresh medium. Cells were harvested 16-24 hours after oligonucleotide treatment.

The concentration of oligonucleotide used varies from cell line to cell line. To determine the optimal oligonucleotide concentration for a particular cell line, the cells are treated with a positive control oligonucleotide at a range of concentrations. For human cells the positive control oligonucleotide is ISIS 13920, TCCGTCATCGCTCCTCAGGG, SEQ ID NO: 1, a 2′-O-methoxyethyl gapmer (2′-O-methoxyethyls shown in bold) with a phosphorothioate backbone which is targeted to human H-ras. For mouse or rat cells the positive control oligonucleotide is ISIS 15770, ATGCATTCTGCCCCCAAGGA, SEQ ID NO: 2, a 2′-O-methoxyethyl gapmer (2′-O-methoxyethyls shown in bold) with a phosphorothioate backbone which is targeted to both mouse and rat c-raf. The concentration of positive control oligonucleotide that results in 80% inhibition of c-Ha-ras (for ISIS 13920) or c-raf (for ISIS 15770) mRNA is then utilized as the screening concentration for new oligonucleotides in subsequent experiments for that cell line. If 80% inhibition is not achieved, the lowest concentration of positive control oligonucleotide that results in 60% inhibition of H-ras or c-raf mRNA is then utilized as the oligonucleotide screening concentration in subsequent experiments for that cell line. If 60% inhibition is not achieved, that particular cell line is deemed as unsuitable for oligonucleotide transfection experiments.

Example 10 Analysis of Oligonucleotide Inhibition of Daxx Expression

Antisense modulation of daxx expression can be assayed in a variety of ways known in the art. For example, daxx mRNA levels can be quantitated by, e.g., Northern blot analysis, competitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR), or real-time PCR (RT-PCR). Real-time quantitative PCR is presently preferred. RNA analysis can be performed on total cellular RNA or poly(A)+ mRNA. Methods of RNA isolation are taught in, for example, Ausubel, F. M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Volume 1, pp. 4.1.1-4.2.9 and 4.5.1-4.5.3, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1993. Northern blot analysis is routine in the art and is taught in, for example, Ausubel, F. M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Volume 1, pp. 4.2.1-4.2.9, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1996. Real-time quantitative (PCR) can be conveniently accomplished using the commercially available ABI PRISM™ 7700 Sequence Detection System, available from PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif. and used according to manufacturer's instructions. Prior to quantitative PCR analysis, primer-probe sets specific to the target gene being measured are evaluated for their ability to be “multiplexed” with a GAPDH amplification reaction. In multiplexing, both the target gene and the internal standard gene GAPDH are amplified concurrently in a single sample. In this analysis, mRNA isolated from untreated cells is serially diluted. Each dilution is amplified in the presence of primer-probe sets specific for GAPDH only, target gene only (“single-plexing”), or both (multiplexing). Following PCR amplification, standard curves of GAPDH and target mRNA signal as a function of dilution are generated from both the single-plexed and multiplexed samples. If both the slope and correlation coefficient of the GAPDH and target signals generated from the multiplexed samples fall within 10% of their corresponding values generated from the single-plexed samples, the primer-probe set specific for that target is deemed as multiplexable. Other methods of PCR are also known in the art.

Protein levels of daxx can be quantitated in a variety of ways well known in the art, such as immunoprecipitation, Western blot analysis (immunoblotting), ELISA or fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Antibodies directed to daxx can be identified and obtained from a variety of sources, such as the MSRS catalog of antibodies (Aerie Corporation, Birmingham, MI), or can be prepared via conventional antibody generation methods. Methods for preparation of polyclonal antisera are taught in, for example, Ausubel, F. M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Volume 2, pp. 11.12.1-11.12.9, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1997. Preparation of monoclonal antibodies is taught in, for example, Ausubel, F. M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Volume 2, pp. 11.4.1-11.11.5, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1997.

Immunoprecipitation methods are standard in the art and can be found at, for example, Ausubel, F. M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Volume 2, pp. 10.16.1-10.16.11, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1998. Western blot (immunoblot) analysis is standard in the art and can be found at, for example, Ausubel, F. M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Volume 2, pp. 10.8.1-10.8.21, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1997. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) are standard in the art and can be found at, for example, Ausubel, F. M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Volume 2, pp. 11.2.1-11.2.22, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1991.

Example 11 Poly(A)+ Isolation

Poly(A)+ mRNA was isolated according to Miura et al., Clin. Chem., 1996, 42, 1758-1764. Other methods for poly(A)+ mRNA isolation are taught in, for example, Ausubel, F. M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Volume 1, pp. 4.5.1-4.5.3, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1993. Briefly, for cells grown on 96-well plates, growth medium was removed from the cells and each well was washed with 200 μL cold PBS. 60 μL lysis buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.6, 1 mM EDTA, 0.5 M NaCl, 0.5% NP-40, 20 mM vanadyl-ribonucleoside complex) was added to each well, the plate was gently agitated and then incubated at room temperature for five minutes. 55 μL of lysate was transferred to Oligo d(T) coated 96-well plates (AGCT Inc., Irvine Calif.). Plates were incubated for 60 minutes at room temperature, washed 3 times with 200 μL of wash buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.6, 1 mM EDTA, 0.3 M NaCl). After the final wash, the plate was blotted on paper towels to remove excess wash buffer and then air-dried for 5 minutes. 60 μL of elution buffer (5 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.6), preheated to 70° C. was added to each well, the plate was incubated on a 90° C. hot plate for 5 minutes, and the eluate was then transferred to a fresh 96-well plate.

Cells grown on 100 mm or other standard plates may be treated similarly, using appropriate volumes of all solutions.

Example 12 Total RNA Isolation

Total mRNA was isolated using an RNEASY 96™ kit and buffers purchased from Qiagen Inc. (Valencia Calif.) following the manufacturer's recommended procedures. Briefly, for cells grown on 96-well plates, growth medium was removed from the cells and each well was washed with 200 μL cold PBS. 100 μL Buffer RLT was added to each well and the plate vigorously agitated for 20 seconds. 100 μL of 70% ethanol was then added to each well and the contents mixed by pipetting three times up and down. The samples were then transferred to the RNEASY 96™ well plate attached to a QIAVAC™ manifold fitted with a waste collection tray and attached to a vacuum source. Vacuum was applied for 15 seconds. 1 mL of Buffer RW1 was added to each well of the RNEASY 96™ plate and the vacuum again applied for 15 seconds. 1 mL of Buffer RPE was then added to each well of the RNEASY 96™ plate and the vacuum applied for a period of 15 seconds. The Buffer RPE wash was then repeated and the vacuum was applied for an additional 10 minutes. The plate was then removed from the QIAVAC™ manifold and blotted dry on paper towels. The plate was then re-attached to the QIAVAC™ manifold fitted with a collection tube rack containing 1.2 mL collection tubes. RNA was then eluted by pipetting 60 μL water into each well, incubating 1 minute, and then applying the vacuum for 30 seconds. The elution step was repeated with an additional 60 μL water.

The repetitive pipetting and elution steps may be automated using a QIAGEN Bio-Robot 9604 (Qiagen, Inc., Valencia Calif.). Essentially, after lysing of the cells on the culture plate, the plate is transferred to the robot deck where the pipetting, DNase treatment and elution steps are carried out.

Example 13 Real-time Quantitative PCR Analysis of daxx mRNA Levels

Quantitation of daxx mRNA levels was determined by real-time quantitative PCR using the ABI PRISM™ 7700 Sequence Detection System (PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) according to manufacturer's instructions. This is a closed-tube, non-gel-based, fluorescence detection system which allows high-throughput quantitation of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products in real-time. As opposed to standard PCR, in which amplification products are quantitated after the PCR is completed, products in real-time quantitative PCR are quantitated as they accumulate. This is accomplished by including in the PCR reaction an oligonucleotide probe that anneals specifically between the forward and reverse PCR primers, and contains two fluorescent dyes. A reporter dye (e.g., JOE, FAM, or VIC, obtained from either Operon Technologies Inc., Alameda, Calif. or PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) is attached to the 5′ end of the probe and a quencher dye (e.g., TAMRA, obtained from either Operon Technologies Inc., Alameda, Calif. or PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) is attached to the 3′ end of the probe. When the probe and dyes are intact, reporter dye emission is quenched by the proximity of the 3′ quencher dye. During amplification, annealing of the probe to the target sequence creates a substrate that can be cleaved by the 5′-exonuclease activity of Taq polymerase. During the extension phase of the PCR amplification cycle, cleavage of the probe by Taq polymerase releases the reporter dye from the remainder of the probe (and hence from the quencher moiety) and a sequence-specific fluorescent signal is generated. With each cycle, additional reporter dye molecules are cleaved from their respective probes, and the fluorescence intensity is monitored at regular intervals by laser optics built into the ABI PRISM™ 7700 Sequence Detection System. In each assay, a series of parallel reactions containing serial dilutions of mRNA from untreated control samples generates a standard curve that is used to quantitate the percent inhibition after antisense oligonucleotide treatment of test samples.

PCR reagents were obtained from PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif. RT-PCR reactions were carried out by adding 25 μL PCR cocktail (1× TAQMAN™ buffer A, 5.5 mM MgCl₂, 300 μM each of dATP, dCTP and dGTP, 600 μm of dUTP, 100 nM each of forward primer, reverse primer, and probe, 20 Units RNAse inhibitor, 1.25 Units AMPLITAQ GOLD™, and 12.5 Units MuLV reverse transcriptase) to 96 well plates containing 25 μL poly(A) mRNA solution. The RT reaction was carried out by incubation for 30 minutes at 48° C. Following a 10 minute incubation at 95° C. to activate the AMPLITAQ GOLD™, 40 cycles of a two-step PCR protocol were carried out: 95° C. for 15 seconds (denaturation) followed by 60° C. for 1.5 minutes (annealing/extension).

Probes and primers to human daxx were designed to hybridize to a human daxx sequence, using published sequence information (GenBank accession number AF050179, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO:3). For human daxx the PCR primers were: forward primer: CTGGAGAATGAGAAGCTGTTCGA (SEQ ID NO: 4) reverse primer: TTGCTGCCGGTTATAGAGGAAT (SEQ ID NO: 5) and the PCR probe was: FAM-TGTAAGATGCAGACAGCAGACCACCCTG-TAMRA (SEQ ID NO: 6) where FAM (PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) is the fluorescent reporter dye) and TAMRA (PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) is the quencher dye. For human GAPDH the PCR primers were: forward primer: GAAGGTGAAGGTCGGAGTC (SEQ ID NO: 7) reverse primer: GAAGATGGTGATGGGATTTC (SEQ ID NO: 8) and the PCR probe was: 5′ JOE-CAAGCTTCCCGTTCTCAGCC- TAMRA 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 9) where JOE (PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) is the fluorescent reporter dye) and TAMRA (PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) is the quencher dye.

Probes and primers to mouse daxx were designed to hybridize to a mouse daxx sequence, using published sequence information (GenBank accession number AF006040, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO:10). For mouse daxx the PCR primers were:

forward primer: CAGCAGCGTGCCCAGTCT (SEQ ID NO:11)

reverse primer: GAGCTCGTTAATGTACACATAGATCTTAGC (SEQ ID NO: 12) and the PCR probe was: FAM-AGTTCTGCAACATCCTCTCCAGGGTTCTG-TAMRA

(SEQ ID NO: 13) where FAM (PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) is the fluorescent reporter dye) and TAMRA (PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) is the quencher dye. For mouse GAPDH the PCR primers were:

forward primer: GGCAAATTCAACGGCACAGT (SEQ ID NO: 14)

reverse primer: GGGTCTCGCTCCTGGAAGCT (SEQ ID NO: 15) and the PCR probe was: 5′ JOE-AAGGCCGAGAATGGGAAGCTTGTCATC- TAMRA 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 16) where JOE (PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) is the fluorescent reporter dye) and TAMRA (PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) is the quencher dye.

Example 14 Northern blot analysis of daxx mRNA levels

Eighteen hours after antisense treatment, cell monolayers were washed twice with cold PBS and lysed in 1 mL RNAZOL™ (TEL-TEST “B” Inc., Friendswood, Tex.). Total RNA was prepared following manufacturer's recommended protocols. Twenty micrograms of total RNA was fractionated by electrophoresis through 1.2% agarose gels containing 1.1% formaldehyde using a MOPS buffer system (AMRESCO, Inc. Solon, Ohio). RNA was transferred from the gel to HYBOND™-N+ nylon membranes (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Piscataway, N.J.) by overnight capillary transfer using a Northern/Southern Transfer buffer system (TEL-TEST “B” Inc., Friendswood, Tex.). RNA transfer was confirmed by UV visualization. Membranes were fixed by UV cross-linking using a STRATALINKER™ UV Crosslinker 2400 (Stratagene, Inc, La Jolla, Calif.) and then robed using QUICKHYB™ hybridization solution (Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif.) using manufacturer's recommendations for stringent conditions.

To detect human daxx, a human daxx specific probe was prepared by PCR using the forward primer CTGGAGAATGAGAAGCTGTTCGA (SEQ ID NO: 4) and the reverse primer TTGCTGCCGGTTATAGAGGAAT (SEQ ID NO: 5). To normalize for variations in loading and transfer efficiency membranes were stripped and probed for human glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) RNA (Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.).

To detect mouse daxx, a mouse daxx specific probe was prepared by PCR using the forward primer CAGCAGCGTGCCCAGTCT (SEQ ID NO:11) and the reverse primer GAGCTCGTTAATGTACACATAGATCTTAGC (SEQ ID NO: 12). To normalize for variations in loading and transfer efficiency membranes were stripped and probed for mouse glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) RNA (Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.).

Hybridized membranes were visualized and quantitated using a PHOSPHORIMAGER™ and IMAGEQUANT™ Software V3.3 (Molecular Dynamics, Sunnyvale, Calif.). Data was normalized to GAPDH levels in untreated controls.

Example 15 Antisense inhibition of human daxx expression by chimeric phosphorothioate oligonucleotides having 2′-MOE wings and a deoxy gap

In accordance with the present invention, a series of oligonucleotides were designed to target different regions of the human daxx RNA, using published sequences (GenBank accession number AF050179, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 3). The oligonucleotides are shown in Table 1. “Target site” indicates the first (5′-most) nucleotide number on the particular target sequence to which the oligonucleotide binds. All compounds in Table 1 are chimeric oligonucleotides (“gapmers”) 20 nucleotides in length, composed of a central “gap” region consisting of ten 2′-deoxynucleotides, which is flanked on both sides (5′ and 3′ directions) by five-nucleotide “wings”. The wings are composed of 2′-methoxyethyl (2′-MOE)nucleotides. The internucleoside (backbone) linkages are phosphorothioate (P=S) throughout the oligonucleotide. All cytidine residues are 5-methylcytidines. The compounds were analyzed for their effect on human daxx mRNA levels by quantitative real-time PCR as described in other examples herein. Data are averages from two experiments. If present, “N.D.” indicates “no data”.

TABLE 1 Inhibition of human daxx mRNA levels by chimeric phosphorothioate oligonucleotides having 2′-MOE wings and a deoxy gap TARGET TARGET SEQ ID ISIS # REGION SEQ ID NO SITE SEQUENCE % INHIB NO 111289 5′UTR 3 1 ctcgcatggttccctccgcc 81 17 111290 5′UTR 3 26 cgaccctcgccgcaattctc 65 18 111291 5′UTR 3 48 cctcagaaaccgtctctcga 71 19 111292 Start 3 116 atgctgttagcggtggccat 63 20 Codon 111293 Coding 3 138 gtcatcatcatccagcacga 72 21 111294 Coding 3 159 ctgagcagctgcttcatctt 69 22 111295 Coding 3 181 ggagtgggtgggagggccct 0 23 111296 Coding 3 237 ggccccatgaggctcagagg 51 24 111297 Coding 3 259 cgcccgaactactgcttcct 77 25 111298 Coding 3 280 ccagcttgtagcatttcttg 79 26 111299 Coding 3 302 tcttcgaacagcttctcatt 58 27 111300 Coding 3 326 tgcatcttacaaagttcaag 86 28 111301 Coding 3 351 gaccacctcagggtggtctg 0 29 111302 Coding 3 376 gttgctgccggttatagagg 90 30 111303 Coding 3 418 tgttgcagaactccgccgag 67 31 111304 Coding 3 445 gggcccgagacaggacccta 63 32 111305 Coding 3 471 gacatagagcttggctggcc 63 33 111306 Coding 3 497 agaacagtgcagagctcatt 76 34 111307 Coding 3 556 cattggaggtggtggcggca 55 35 111308 Coding 3 582 tgtgggagggttattcccag 49 36 111309 Coding 3 627 ctgagaggcagtgttttcag 79 37 111310 Coding 3 668 aaacgctggatctgccgccg 76 38 111311 Coding 3 693 cacatagagcgccagcagct 59 39 111312 Coding 3 721 ccttttcctgcagccgccgg 73 40 111313 Coding 3 745 catccaattctgagagatcc 78 41 111314 Coding 3 769 cctgcaggtatgcggagtct 48 42 111315 Coding 3 790 gcttacgcttcaaccgtgcc 80 43 111316 Coding 3 817 cacatagtcgcccaaagagg 72 44 111317 Coding 3 841 tcagtgaagagcagtctttc 62 45 111318 Coding 3 862 gctgctctatgacacggccg 65 46 111319 Coding 3 903 cctgttaacctctgggtagc 76 47 111320 Coding 3 927 cttgttgatgagccgctcaa 75 48 111321 Coding 3 950 tcagggaaggtatcaggccc 58 49 111322 Coding 3 974 acagcccgaagcacatcccc 50 50 111323 Coding 3 1000 ggctgtgtcgggcagctgcc 53 51 111324 Coding 3 1043 gcatcctgagccatgagctg 59 52 111325 Coding 3 1068 taacctgatgcccacatctc 61 53 111326 Coding 3 1092 gagatcgaggtgacgtcgct 60 54 111327 Coding 3 1117 tgaggtggcagccaaagttg 68 55 111328 Coding 3 1142 tcaacgcctggcctatagtc 74 56 111329 Coding 3 1166 aacacaggatctgatagtgc 74 57 111330 Coding 3 1191 ccggttttcccgaaggcgcc 61 58 111331 Coding 3 1216 catccagccgactcatggcc 81 59 111332 Coding 3 1238 attgcatatttggagatgac 37 60 111333 Coding 3 1262 ccctcctcacttttgtcttg 64 61 111334 Coding 3 1302 agaggtgccttggagccgag 74 62 111335 Coding 3 1343 ccagaatccaaggaggcttc 58 63 111336 Coding 3 1366 atgccattccactagggccc 65 64 111337 Coding 3 1390 tggaggcagaagggcacccc 61 65 111338 Coding 3 1416 atcgtcttcgtcatctgtct 77 66 111339 Coding 3 1441 cctcctcttcctcatcactc 30 67 111340 Coding 3 1465 cctcctcttcttcttcctcc 25 68 111341 Coding 3 1485 ctcttcagaatctgtggcct 66 69 111342 Coding 3 1508 tgcatctgttccagatcctc 89 70 111343 Coding 3 1532 tcttcatcatcctcctgacc 34 71 111344 Coding 3 1551 ttcttcctcttcgtcctcct 58 72 111345 Coding 3 1569 atctttacctgctgctgctt 65 73 111346 Coding 3 1605 ggagatctgtagtgaggaca 72 74 111347 Coding 3 1622 tccaggttcttttcattgga 70 75 111348 Coding 3 1642 tgctgatctgtttgccaggt 65 76 111349 Coding 3 1660 gctgctcccctgaagatctg 80 77 111350 Coding 3 1680 cactatgcgtcctttgtttt 64 78 111351 Coding 3 1700 tctgacagtaacgatggtga 86 79 111352 Coding 3 1745 tctccattgctttcagcatc 70 80 111353 Coding 3 1762 tcagctcctcaggctgttct 75 81 111354 Coding 3 1779 gctttcttcctccagggtca 57 82 111355 Coding 3 1798 caaagagctgagacacaggg 6 83 111356 Coding 3 1816 aagcttcaatctctagctca 56 84 111357 Coding 3 1863 ggaagaggaaatgtccgtct 80 85 111358 Coding 3 1883 ggctcctctgattgcttcct 83 86 111359 Coding 3 1900 ctaagacagtggtgaagggc 47 87 111360 Coding 3 1917 catgcctgctccattctcta 81 88 111361 Coding 3 1933 aggaagtagaagagaccatg 64 89 111362 Coding 3 1948 agacgcctccattgaaggaa 69 90 111363 Coding 3 1965 tccccagttgtgaggagaga 43 91 111364 Coding 3 2012 gtttgcttcttctccttccg 82 92 111365 Coding 3 2056 acctttgcctttccacatag 56 93 111366 Coding 3 2154 caccctcgtggaggaatcag 64 94 111367 Coding 3 2195 atgcagagggagctggtcac 58 95 111368 Coding 3 2259 cttgcaagtaccaggccgag 41 96

As shown in Table 1, SEQ ID NOs 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95 and 96 demonstrated at least 20% inhibition of human daxx expression in this assay and are therefore preferred.

Example 16 Antisense inhibition of mouse daxx expression by chimeric phosphorothioate oligonucleotides having 2′-MOE wings and a deoxy gap.

In accordance with the present invention, a second series of oligonucleotides were designed to target different regions of the mouse daxx RNA, using published sequences (GenBank accession number AF006040, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 10). The oligonucleotides are shown in Table 2. “Target site” indicates the first (5′-most) nucleotide number on the particular target sequence to which the oligonucleotide binds. All compounds in Table 2 are chimeric oligonucleotides (“gapmers”) 20 nucleotides in length, composed of a central “gap” region consisting of ten 2′-deoxynucleotides, which is flanked on both sides (5′ and 3′ directions) by five-nucleotide “wings”. The wings are composed of 2′-methoxyethyl (2′-MOE)nucleotides. The internucleoside (backbone) linkages are phosphorothioate (P=S) throughout the oligonucleotide. All cytidine residues are 5-methylcytidines. The compounds were analyzed for their effect on mouse daxx mRNA levels by quantitative real-time PCR as described in other examples herein. Data are averages from two experiments. If present, “N.D.” indicates “no data”.

TABLE 2 Inhibition of human daxx mRNA levels by chimeric phosphorothioate oligonucleotides having 2′-MOE wings and a deoxy gap TARGET TARGET SEQ ID ISIS # REGION SEQ ID NO SITE SEQUENCE % INHIB NO 111209 5′ UTR 10 1 gttcaaattcccctcagaaa 0 97 111210 Start 10 25 atgctgtcatcggtggccat 60 98 Codon 111211 Coding 10 37 tcaagtacaatgatgctgtc 31 99 111212 Coding 10 68 ttgagcagcagcttcatctt 16 100 111213 Coding 10 115 ccaggtcctgttgaggcagg 44 101 111214 Coding 10 145 agaccagtggcctgttgaga 9 102 111215 Coding 10 189 tactaccggagttactgctc 43 103 111216 Coding 10 215 ctcattatccaacttgtagc 33 104 111217 Coding 10 245 acacagttcaaggaactctt 35 105 111218 Coding 10 267 ggtggtctgatgtctccgtc 48 106 111219 Coding 10 288 ggaggaacggaaccacctca 26 107 111220 Coding 10 312 actgggcacgctgctgcagt 55 108 111221 Coding 10 333 ctgcagaggccagaaacaca 49 109 111222 Coding 10 354 tggagaggatgttgcagaac 47 110 111223 Coding 10 376 ttccgagaccgagccagaac 53 111 111224 Coding 10 398 cacatagatcttagcgggcc 84 112 111225 Coding 10 418 gtgcagagctcgttaatgta 50 113 111226 Coding 10 438 tggagtgagctttaagaaca 30 114 111227 Coding 10 457 aagttcaacttcttcttgat 53 115 111228 Coding 10 481 ctggtcgttgaggctgcagg 47 116 111229 Coding 10 504 gagggttagggcccgacgcc 44 117 111230 Coding 10 544 gtgttttcagtgtttgtaag 49 118 111231 Coding 10 565 gtccttgaggcctcagaggc 34 119 111232 Coding 10 589 tggatctgcctccgggaacc 57 120 111233 Coding 10 611 tgccagcagctgctccaggc 55 121 111234 Coding 10 633 gccgaatctcggctacatac 26 122 111235 Coding 10 657 ggtccaactccttctcctgc 25 123 111236 Coding 10 688 tacgaggagtctgggtcatc 36 124 111237 Coding 10 714 tcctcttcaagcgggcctcc 37 125 111238 Coding 10 743 acacaaccgcccgaagaggc 21 126 111239 Coding 10 769 gtcagagaagagcagtcctt 38 127 111240 Coding 10 791 tcgctgctctatgacccgcc 57 128 111241 Coding 10 813 accgggtgcctcggtacgga 56 129 111242 Coding 10 839 ttcaatgcgcctgttgacct 29 130 111243 Coding 10 862 agccccggcttgttaatgag 47 131 111244 Coding 10 900 cggctctcagcacatctcca 44 132 111245 Coding 10 922 tgccgggtcgccgccttctc 55 133 111246 Coding 10 942 gtctgggaaggcccaggctg 35 134 111247 Coding 10 964 tgagccaggagctgaagctg 43 135 111248 Coding 10 985 cccacgtcccggaaggcatc 37 136 111249 Coding 10 1006 cgccgctcctgtaacctgac 51 137 111250 Coding 10 1027 ttgtagatgagatccaggtg 38 138 111251 Coding 10 1048 tctgtgaggtgacagccaaa 7 139 111252 Coding 10 1068 caacgcctggcctatagtca 21 140 111253 Coding 10 1105 aggcggcgagccaatgtggg 7 141 111254 Coding 10 1129 atggccaaggttcgattttc 44 142 111255 Coding 10 1152 agatgacctcatccagccgg 52 143 111256 Coding 10 1174 tcttgcatcattgcatactt 42 144 111257 Coding 10 1194 tctcgccctcctcagtcttg 51 145 111258 Coding 10 1213 cgggctcgtctcttctgtct 68 146 111259 Coding 10 1269 cagattccgaggaggcttgg 20 147 111260 Coding 10 1290 ccattccgctaggaccctca 22 148 111261 Coding 10 1316 ggaggtagtagggcactcct 14 149 111262 Coding 10 1335 catcatcagtctcagctttg 45 150 111263 Coding 10 1356 cgtcatcatcgtcatcatcg 45 151 111264 Coding 10 1378 ctttcctcgttatcttcgtc 24 152 111265 Coding 10 1397 ctcctcctcctcctcctcac 30 153 111266 Coding 10 1418 agcctctttctcctcctctt 39 154 111267 Coding 10 1435 tcatcttcatcttcagtagc 25 155 111268 Coding 10 1453 tgcaactgttctagatcctc 55 156 111269 Coding 10 1491 ctcctccttcctcttcttca 10 157 111270 Coding 10 1512 gactctcatttccttcatta 13 158 111271 Coding 10 1532 aaagtctgaaggcgatgtgg 42 159 111272 Coding 10 1571 cctgagcccttctgcaggct 51 160 111273 Coding 10 1609 gtctctgtcagtcctctctt 63 161 111274 Coding 10 1656 cgtcagtgctgggagggtcc 0 162 111275 Coding 10 1681 aggagctgctctccactgct 28 163 111276 Coding 10 1702 tcgtctcccaggagcggctc 28 164 111277 Coding 10 1723 gcgagctgggacacaggact 51 165 111278 Coding 10 1748 aggcaaagcttccatctcta 48 166 111279 Coding 10 1770 gggaggaaatgtccctttcc 40 167 111280 Coding 10 1833 aggtaaccacagctgcccca 45 168 111281 Coding 10 1854 cacgcccattgacagatgta 20 169 111282 Coding 10 1876 tctctccaagtgtgagaaga 6 170 111283 Coding 10 1916 cttcttttccttccgaaatc 34 171 111284 Coding 10 1938 ctaacagtccagagcccagt 34 172 111285 Coding 10 1959 gttcttttatatagctgttt 52 173 111286 Coding 10 1981 ccactgtcctgctgtgccat 39 174 111287 Coding 10 2004 taggctggacacttgtgttc 36 175 111288 Coding 10 2051 ggaggaatcagcgacagaag 49 176

As shown in Table 2, SEQ ID NOs 98, 99, 101, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 140, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 148, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 159, 160, 161, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175 and 176 demonstrated at least 20% inhibition of mouse daxx expression in this experiment and are therefore preferred.

Example 17 Western blot analysis of daxx protein levels

Western blot analysis (immunoblot analysis) is carried out using standard methods. Cells are harvested 16-20 h after oligonucleotide treatment, washed once with PBS, suspended in Laemmli buffer (100 ul/well), boiled for 5 minutes and loaded on a 16% SDS-PAGE gel. Gels are run for 1.5 hours at 150 V, and transferred to membrane for western blotting. Appropriate primary antibody directed to daxx is used, with a radiolabelled or fluorescently labeled secondary antibody directed against the primary antibody species. Bands are visualized using a PHOSPHORIMAGER™ (Molecular Dynamics, Sunnyvale Calif.).

176 1 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 1 tccgtcatcg ctcctcaggg 20 2 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 2 atgcattctg cccccaagga 20 3 2477 DNA Homo sapiens CDS (116)...(2338) 3 ggcggaggga accatgcgag gttctgagaa ttgcggcgag ggtcgcctcg agagacggtt 60 tctgaggaat tctgaaatcc ccaccacttc ctccctccgg gggatttgat cccct atg 118 Met 1 gcc acc gct aac agc atc atc gtg ctg gat gat gat gac gaa gat gaa 166 Ala Thr Ala Asn Ser Ile Ile Val Leu Asp Asp Asp Asp Glu Asp Glu 5 10 15 gca gct gct cag cca ggg ccc tcc cac cca ctc ccc aat gcg gcc tca 214 Ala Ala Ala Gln Pro Gly Pro Ser His Pro Leu Pro Asn Ala Ala Ser 20 25 30 cct ggg gca gaa gcc cct agc tcc tct gag cct cat ggg gcc aga gga 262 Pro Gly Ala Glu Ala Pro Ser Ser Ser Glu Pro His Gly Ala Arg Gly 35 40 45 agc agt agt tcg ggc ggc aag aaa tgc tac aag ctg gag aat gag aag 310 Ser Ser Ser Ser Gly Gly Lys Lys Cys Tyr Lys Leu Glu Asn Glu Lys 50 55 60 65 ctg ttc gaa gag ttc ctt gaa ctt tgt aag atg cag aca gca gac cac 358 Leu Phe Glu Glu Phe Leu Glu Leu Cys Lys Met Gln Thr Ala Asp His 70 75 80 cct gag gtg gtc cca ttc ctc tat aac cgg cag caa cgt gcc cac tct 406 Pro Glu Val Val Pro Phe Leu Tyr Asn Arg Gln Gln Arg Ala His Ser 85 90 95 ctg ttt ttg gcc tcg gcg gag ttc tgc aac atc ctc tct agg gtc ctg 454 Leu Phe Leu Ala Ser Ala Glu Phe Cys Asn Ile Leu Ser Arg Val Leu 100 105 110 tct cgg gcc cgg agc cgg cca gcc aag ctc tat gtc tac atc aat gag 502 Ser Arg Ala Arg Ser Arg Pro Ala Lys Leu Tyr Val Tyr Ile Asn Glu 115 120 125 ctc tgc act gtt ctc aag gcc cac tca gcc aaa aag aag ctg aac ttg 550 Leu Cys Thr Val Leu Lys Ala His Ser Ala Lys Lys Lys Leu Asn Leu 130 135 140 145 gcc cct gcc gcc acc acc tcc aat gag ccc tct ggg aat aac cct ccc 598 Ala Pro Ala Ala Thr Thr Ser Asn Glu Pro Ser Gly Asn Asn Pro Pro 150 155 160 aca cac ctc tcc ttg gac ccc aca aat gct gaa aac act gcc tct cag 646 Thr His Leu Ser Leu Asp Pro Thr Asn Ala Glu Asn Thr Ala Ser Gln 165 170 175 tct cca agg acc cgt ggt tcc cgg cgg cag atc cag cgt ttg gag cag 694 Ser Pro Arg Thr Arg Gly Ser Arg Arg Gln Ile Gln Arg Leu Glu Gln 180 185 190 ctg ctg gcg ctc tat gtg gca gag atc cgg cgg ctg cag gaa aag gag 742 Leu Leu Ala Leu Tyr Val Ala Glu Ile Arg Arg Leu Gln Glu Lys Glu 195 200 205 ttg gat ctc tca gaa ttg gat gac cca gac tcc gca tac ctg cag gag 790 Leu Asp Leu Ser Glu Leu Asp Asp Pro Asp Ser Ala Tyr Leu Gln Glu 210 215 220 225 gca cgg ttg aag cgt aag ctg atc cgc ctc ttt ggg cga cta tgt gag 838 Ala Arg Leu Lys Arg Lys Leu Ile Arg Leu Phe Gly Arg Leu Cys Glu 230 235 240 ctg aaa gac tgc tct tca ctg acc ggc cgt gtc ata gag cag cgc atc 886 Leu Lys Asp Cys Ser Ser Leu Thr Gly Arg Val Ile Glu Gln Arg Ile 245 250 255 ccc tac cgt ggc acc cgc tac cca gag gtt aac agg cgc att gag cgg 934 Pro Tyr Arg Gly Thr Arg Tyr Pro Glu Val Asn Arg Arg Ile Glu Arg 260 265 270 ctc atc aac aag cca ggg cct gat acc ttc cct gac tat ggg gat gtg 982 Leu Ile Asn Lys Pro Gly Pro Asp Thr Phe Pro Asp Tyr Gly Asp Val 275 280 285 ctt cgg gct gta gag aag gca gct gcc cga cac agc ctt ggc ctc ccc 1030 Leu Arg Ala Val Glu Lys Ala Ala Ala Arg His Ser Leu Gly Leu Pro 290 295 300 305 cga cag cag ctc cag ctc atg gct cag gat gcc ttc cga gat gtg ggc 1078 Arg Gln Gln Leu Gln Leu Met Ala Gln Asp Ala Phe Arg Asp Val Gly 310 315 320 atc agg tta cag gag cga cgt cac ctc gat ctc atc tac aac ttt ggc 1126 Ile Arg Leu Gln Glu Arg Arg His Leu Asp Leu Ile Tyr Asn Phe Gly 325 330 335 tgc cac ctc aca gat gac tat agg cca ggc gtt gac cct gca cta tca 1174 Cys His Leu Thr Asp Asp Tyr Arg Pro Gly Val Asp Pro Ala Leu Ser 340 345 350 gat cct gtg ttg gcc cgg cgc ctt cgg gaa aac cgg agt ttg gcc atg 1222 Asp Pro Val Leu Ala Arg Arg Leu Arg Glu Asn Arg Ser Leu Ala Met 355 360 365 agt cgg ctg gat gag gtc atc tcc aaa tat gca atg ttg caa gac aaa 1270 Ser Arg Leu Asp Glu Val Ile Ser Lys Tyr Ala Met Leu Gln Asp Lys 370 375 380 385 agt gag gag ggc gag aga aaa aag aga aga gct cgg ctc caa ggc acc 1318 Ser Glu Glu Gly Glu Arg Lys Lys Arg Arg Ala Arg Leu Gln Gly Thr 390 395 400 tct tcc cac tct gca gac acc ccc gaa gcc tcc ttg gat tct ggt gag 1366 Ser Ser His Ser Ala Asp Thr Pro Glu Ala Ser Leu Asp Ser Gly Glu 405 410 415 ggc cct agt gga atg gca tcc cag ggg tgc cct tct gcc tcc aga gct 1414 Gly Pro Ser Gly Met Ala Ser Gln Gly Cys Pro Ser Ala Ser Arg Ala 420 425 430 gag aca gat gac gaa gac gat gag gag agt gat gag gaa gag gag gag 1462 Glu Thr Asp Asp Glu Asp Asp Glu Glu Ser Asp Glu Glu Glu Glu Glu 435 440 445 gag gag gaa gaa gaa gag gag gag gcc aca gat tct gaa gag gag gag 1510 Glu Glu Glu Glu Glu Glu Glu Glu Ala Thr Asp Ser Glu Glu Glu Glu 450 455 460 465 gat ctg gaa cag atg cag gag ggt cag gag gat gat gaa gag gag gac 1558 Asp Leu Glu Gln Met Gln Glu Gly Gln Glu Asp Asp Glu Glu Glu Asp 470 475 480 gaa gag gaa gaa gca gca gca ggt aaa gat gga gac aag agc ccc atg 1606 Glu Glu Glu Glu Ala Ala Ala Gly Lys Asp Gly Asp Lys Ser Pro Met 485 490 495 tcc tca cta cag atc tcc aat gaa aag aac ctg gaa cct ggc aaa cag 1654 Ser Ser Leu Gln Ile Ser Asn Glu Lys Asn Leu Glu Pro Gly Lys Gln 500 505 510 atc agc aga tct tca ggg gag cag caa aac aaa gga cgc ata gtg tca 1702 Ile Ser Arg Ser Ser Gly Glu Gln Gln Asn Lys Gly Arg Ile Val Ser 515 520 525 cca tcg tta ctg tca gaa gaa ccc ctg gcc ccc tcc agc ata gat gct 1750 Pro Ser Leu Leu Ser Glu Glu Pro Leu Ala Pro Ser Ser Ile Asp Ala 530 535 540 545 gaa agc aat gga gaa cag cct gag gag ctg acc ctg gag gaa gaa agc 1798 Glu Ser Asn Gly Glu Gln Pro Glu Glu Leu Thr Leu Glu Glu Glu Ser 550 555 560 cct gtg tct cag ctc ttt gag cta gag att gaa gct ttg ccc ctg gat 1846 Pro Val Ser Gln Leu Phe Glu Leu Glu Ile Glu Ala Leu Pro Leu Asp 565 570 575 acc cct tcc tct gtg gag acg gac att tcc tct tcc agg aag caa tca 1894 Thr Pro Ser Ser Val Glu Thr Asp Ile Ser Ser Ser Arg Lys Gln Ser 580 585 590 gag gag ccc ttc acc act gtc tta gag aat gga gca ggc atg gtc tct 1942 Glu Glu Pro Phe Thr Thr Val Leu Glu Asn Gly Ala Gly Met Val Ser 595 600 605 tct act tcc ttc aat gga ggc gtc tct cct cac aac tgg gga gat tct 1990 Ser Thr Ser Phe Asn Gly Gly Val Ser Pro His Asn Trp Gly Asp Ser 610 615 620 625 ggt ccc ccc tgc aaa aaa tct cgg aag gag aag aag caa aca gga tca 2038 Gly Pro Pro Cys Lys Lys Ser Arg Lys Glu Lys Lys Gln Thr Gly Ser 630 635 640 ggg cca tta gga aac agc tat gtg gaa agg caa agg tca gtg cat gag 2086 Gly Pro Leu Gly Asn Ser Tyr Val Glu Arg Gln Arg Ser Val His Glu 645 650 655 aag aat ggg aaa aag ata tgt acc ctg ccc agc cca cct tcc ccc ttg 2134 Lys Asn Gly Lys Lys Ile Cys Thr Leu Pro Ser Pro Pro Ser Pro Leu 660 665 670 gct tcc ttg gcc cca gtt gct gat tcc tcc acg agg gtg gac tct ccc 2182 Ala Ser Leu Ala Pro Val Ala Asp Ser Ser Thr Arg Val Asp Ser Pro 675 680 685 agc cat ggc ctg gtg acc agc tcc ctc tgc atc cct tct cca gcc cgg 2230 Ser His Gly Leu Val Thr Ser Ser Leu Cys Ile Pro Ser Pro Ala Arg 690 695 700 705 ctg tcc caa acc ccc cat tca cag cct cct cgg cct ggt act tgc aag 2278 Leu Ser Gln Thr Pro His Ser Gln Pro Pro Arg Pro Gly Thr Cys Lys 710 715 720 aca agt gtg gcc aca caa tgc gat cca gaa gag atc atc gtg ctc tca 2326 Thr Ser Val Ala Thr Gln Cys Asp Pro Glu Glu Ile Ile Val Leu Ser 725 730 735 gac tct gat tag ctgcctcccc ttctccctgc ctccagaatg ttctgggata 2378 Asp Ser Asp 740 acatttggag gaaggtggga agcagatgac tgaggaaggg atggactaag ctaatcccct 2438 tttggtggtg tttctttaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaa 2477 4 23 DNA Artificial Sequence PCR Primer 4 ctggagaatg agaagctgtt cga 23 5 22 DNA Artificial Sequence PCR Primer 5 ttgctgccgg ttatagagga at 22 6 28 DNA Artificial Sequence PCR Probe 6 tgtaagatgc agacagcaga ccaccctg 28 7 19 DNA Artificial Sequence PCR Primer 7 gaaggtgaag gtcggagtc 19 8 20 DNA Artificial Sequence PCR Primer 8 gaagatggtg atgggatttc 20 9 20 DNA Artificial Sequence PCR Probe 9 caagcttccc gttctcagcc 20 10 2360 DNA Mus musculus CDS (25)...(2244) 10 tttctgaggg gaatttgaac cccc atg gcc acc gat gac agc atc att gta 51 Met Ala Thr Asp Asp Ser Ile Ile Val 1 5 ctt gat gat gac gat gaa gat gaa gct gct gct caa cca ggg ccc tcc 99 Leu Asp Asp Asp Asp Glu Asp Glu Ala Ala Ala Gln Pro Gly Pro Ser 10 15 20 25 aac cta ccc ccc aat cct gcc tca aca gga cct ggt cct ggc ctg tct 147 Asn Leu Pro Pro Asn Pro Ala Ser Thr Gly Pro Gly Pro Gly Leu Ser 30 35 40 caa cag gcc act ggt ctc tcc gag ccc cgt gtg gat gga ggg agc agt 195 Gln Gln Ala Thr Gly Leu Ser Glu Pro Arg Val Asp Gly Gly Ser Ser 45 50 55 aac tcc ggt agt agg aag tgc tac aag ttg gat aat gag aag ctc ttt 243 Asn Ser Gly Ser Arg Lys Cys Tyr Lys Leu Asp Asn Glu Lys Leu Phe 60 65 70 gaa gag ttc ctt gaa ctg tgt aag acg gag aca tca gac cac cct gag 291 Glu Glu Phe Leu Glu Leu Cys Lys Thr Glu Thr Ser Asp His Pro Glu 75 80 85 gtg gtt ccg ttc ctc cac aaa ctg cag cag cgt gcc cag tct gtg ttt 339 Val Val Pro Phe Leu His Lys Leu Gln Gln Arg Ala Gln Ser Val Phe 90 95 100 105 ctg gcc tct gca gag ttc tgc aac atc ctc tcc agg gtt ctg gct cgg 387 Leu Ala Ser Ala Glu Phe Cys Asn Ile Leu Ser Arg Val Leu Ala Arg 110 115 120 tct cgg aag cgg ccc gct aag atc tat gtg tac att aac gag ctc tgc 435 Ser Arg Lys Arg Pro Ala Lys Ile Tyr Val Tyr Ile Asn Glu Leu Cys 125 130 135 act gtt ctt aaa gct cac tcc atc aag aag aag ttg aac tta gct cct 483 Thr Val Leu Lys Ala His Ser Ile Lys Lys Lys Leu Asn Leu Ala Pro 140 145 150 gca gcc tca acg acc agt gag gcg tcg ggc cct aac cct ccc aca gag 531 Ala Ala Ser Thr Thr Ser Glu Ala Ser Gly Pro Asn Pro Pro Thr Glu 155 160 165 ccc ccc tct gac ctt aca aac act gaa aac act gcc tct gag gcc tca 579 Pro Pro Ser Asp Leu Thr Asn Thr Glu Asn Thr Ala Ser Glu Ala Ser 170 175 180 185 agg act cgc ggt tcc cgg agg cag atc cag cgc ctg gag cag ctg ctg 627 Arg Thr Arg Gly Ser Arg Arg Gln Ile Gln Arg Leu Glu Gln Leu Leu 190 195 200 gca ctg tat gta gcc gag att cgg cgg ctg cag gag aag gag ttg gac 675 Ala Leu Tyr Val Ala Glu Ile Arg Arg Leu Gln Glu Lys Glu Leu Asp 205 210 215 ctg tca gag ctg gat gac cca gac tcc tcg tat ttg cag gag gcc cgc 723 Leu Ser Glu Leu Asp Asp Pro Asp Ser Ser Tyr Leu Gln Glu Ala Arg 220 225 230 ttg aag agg aag ttg atc cgc ctc ttc ggg cgg ttg tgt gag ttg aag 771 Leu Lys Arg Lys Leu Ile Arg Leu Phe Gly Arg Leu Cys Glu Leu Lys 235 240 245 gac tgc tct tct ctg acg ggg cgg gtc ata gag cag cga att ccg tac 819 Asp Cys Ser Ser Leu Thr Gly Arg Val Ile Glu Gln Arg Ile Pro Tyr 250 255 260 265 cga ggc acc cgg tac cca gag gtc aac agg cgc att gaa cgg ctc att 867 Arg Gly Thr Arg Tyr Pro Glu Val Asn Arg Arg Ile Glu Arg Leu Ile 270 275 280 aac aag ccg ggg ctg gac acc ttc ccc gat tat gga gat gtg ctg aga 915 Asn Lys Pro Gly Leu Asp Thr Phe Pro Asp Tyr Gly Asp Val Leu Arg 285 290 295 gcc gtg gag aag gcg gcg acc cgg cac agc ctg ggc ctt ccc aga cag 963 Ala Val Glu Lys Ala Ala Thr Arg His Ser Leu Gly Leu Pro Arg Gln 300 305 310 cag ctt cag ctc ctg gct cag gat gcc ttc cgg gac gtg ggc gtc agg 1011 Gln Leu Gln Leu Leu Ala Gln Asp Ala Phe Arg Asp Val Gly Val Arg 315 320 325 tta cag gag cgg cgc cac ctg gat ctc atc tac aac ttt ggc tgt cac 1059 Leu Gln Glu Arg Arg His Leu Asp Leu Ile Tyr Asn Phe Gly Cys His 330 335 340 345 ctc aca gat gac tat agg cca ggc gtt gac ccc gca ctg tct gat ccc 1107 Leu Thr Asp Asp Tyr Arg Pro Gly Val Asp Pro Ala Leu Ser Asp Pro 350 355 360 aca ttg gct cgc cgc ctt cgg gaa aat cga acc ttg gcc atg aac cgg 1155 Thr Leu Ala Arg Arg Leu Arg Glu Asn Arg Thr Leu Ala Met Asn Arg 365 370 375 ctg gat gag gtc atc tcc aag tat gca atg atg caa gac aag act gag 1203 Leu Asp Glu Val Ile Ser Lys Tyr Ala Met Met Gln Asp Lys Thr Glu 380 385 390 gag ggc gag aga cag aag aga cga gcc cgg ctc tta ggc acc gcc ccc 1251 Glu Gly Glu Arg Gln Lys Arg Arg Ala Arg Leu Leu Gly Thr Ala Pro 395 400 405 caa cct tca gac ccc ccc caa gcc tcc tcg gaa tct ggt gag ggt cct 1299 Gln Pro Ser Asp Pro Pro Gln Ala Ser Ser Glu Ser Gly Glu Gly Pro 410 415 420 425 agc gga atg gca tcc cag gag tgc cct act acc tcc aaa gct gag act 1347 Ser Gly Met Ala Ser Gln Glu Cys Pro Thr Thr Ser Lys Ala Glu Thr 430 435 440 gat gat gac gat gat gac gat gat gac gac gac gaa gat aac gag gaa 1395 Asp Asp Asp Asp Asp Asp Asp Asp Asp Asp Asp Glu Asp Asn Glu Glu 445 450 455 agt gag gag gag gag gag gag gaa gag gag gag aaa gag gct act gaa 1443 Ser Glu Glu Glu Glu Glu Glu Glu Glu Glu Glu Lys Glu Ala Thr Glu 460 465 470 gat gaa gat gag gat cta gaa cag ttg cag gaa gat cag ggg ggt gat 1491 Asp Glu Asp Glu Asp Leu Glu Gln Leu Gln Glu Asp Gln Gly Gly Asp 475 480 485 gaa gaa gag gaa gga gga gat aat gaa gga aat gag agt ccc aca tcg 1539 Glu Glu Glu Glu Gly Gly Asp Asn Glu Gly Asn Glu Ser Pro Thr Ser 490 495 500 505 cct tca gac ttt ttc cat aga agg aat tca gag cct gca gaa ggg ctc 1587 Pro Ser Asp Phe Phe His Arg Arg Asn Ser Glu Pro Ala Glu Gly Leu 510 515 520 agg acc ccc gag ggg cag caa aag aga gga ctg aca gag acc cca gca 1635 Arg Thr Pro Glu Gly Gln Gln Lys Arg Gly Leu Thr Glu Thr Pro Ala 525 530 535 tcc ccg cca ggg gca tcc ctg gac cct ccc agc act gac gct gag agc 1683 Ser Pro Pro Gly Ala Ser Leu Asp Pro Pro Ser Thr Asp Ala Glu Ser 540 545 550 agt gga gag cag ctc ctc gag ccg ctc ctg gga gac gag agt cct gtg 1731 Ser Gly Glu Gln Leu Leu Glu Pro Leu Leu Gly Asp Glu Ser Pro Val 555 560 565 tcc cag ctc gct gag cta gag atg gaa gct ttg cct gag gaa agg gac 1779 Ser Gln Leu Ala Glu Leu Glu Met Glu Ala Leu Pro Glu Glu Arg Asp 570 575 580 585 att tcc tcc ccc agg aaa aag tcg gaa gat tcc ctc ccc acc atc ttg 1827 Ile Ser Ser Pro Arg Lys Lys Ser Glu Asp Ser Leu Pro Thr Ile Leu 590 595 600 gaa aat ggg gca gct gtg gtt acc tct aca tct gtc aat ggg cgt gtc 1875 Glu Asn Gly Ala Ala Val Val Thr Ser Thr Ser Val Asn Gly Arg Val 605 610 615 tct tct cac act tgg aga gat gcc agt ccc ccc agc aag aga ttt cgg 1923 Ser Ser His Thr Trp Arg Asp Ala Ser Pro Pro Ser Lys Arg Phe Arg 620 625 630 aag gaa aag aag caa ctg ggc tct gga ctg tta gga aac agc tat ata 1971 Lys Glu Lys Lys Gln Leu Gly Ser Gly Leu Leu Gly Asn Ser Tyr Ile 635 640 645 aaa gaa ccg atg gca cag cag gac agt ggg cag aac aca agt gtc cag 2019 Lys Glu Pro Met Ala Gln Gln Asp Ser Gly Gln Asn Thr Ser Val Gln 650 655 660 665 cct atg cca tcc ccc ccc ttg gcc tct gtg gct tct gtc gct gat tcc 2067 Pro Met Pro Ser Pro Pro Leu Ala Ser Val Ala Ser Val Ala Asp Ser 670 675 680 tcc aca agg gtg gac tct ccc agc cat gaa ctg gtg acc agc tct ctg 2115 Ser Thr Arg Val Asp Ser Pro Ser His Glu Leu Val Thr Ser Ser Leu 685 690 695 tgc agc cct tct cca tcc ctg ctt ctc cag aca ccc cag gct cag tct 2163 Cys Ser Pro Ser Pro Ser Leu Leu Leu Gln Thr Pro Gln Ala Gln Ser 700 705 710 ctc cgg cag tgt att tat aag acc agt gtg gcc aca cag tgc gac ccg 2211 Leu Arg Gln Cys Ile Tyr Lys Thr Ser Val Ala Thr Gln Cys Asp Pro 715 720 725 gag gag atc atc gtg ctt tca gac tct gat tag caggccccat gctccccgtg 2264 Glu Glu Ile Ile Val Leu Ser Asp Ser Asp 730 735 740 ctccctgcat ccagaaggtt ttttgtatgg ctgttggaag atgatggagt aaaagatgga 2324 cagagctcct cccgttttga tggtgtttct tttgac 2360 11 18 DNA Artificial Sequence PCR Primer 11 cagcagcgtg cccagtct 18 12 30 DNA Artificial Sequence PCR Primer 12 gagctcgtta atgtacacat agatcttagc 30 13 29 DNA Artificial Sequence PCR Probe 13 agttctgcaa catcctctcc agggttctg 29 14 20 DNA Artificial Sequence PCR Primer 14 ggcaaattca acggcacagt 20 15 20 DNA Artificial Sequence PCR Primer 15 gggtctcgct cctggaagct 20 16 27 DNA Artificial Sequence PCR Probe 16 aaggccgaga atgggaagct tgtcatc 27 17 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 17 ctcgcatggt tccctccgcc 20 18 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 18 cgaccctcgc cgcaattctc 20 19 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 19 cctcagaaac cgtctctcga 20 20 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 20 atgctgttag cggtggccat 20 21 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 21 gtcatcatca tccagcacga 20 22 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 22 ctgagcagct gcttcatctt 20 23 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 23 ggagtgggtg ggagggccct 20 24 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 24 ggccccatga ggctcagagg 20 25 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 25 cgcccgaact actgcttcct 20 26 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 26 ccagcttgta gcatttcttg 20 27 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 27 tcttcgaaca gcttctcatt 20 28 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 28 tgcatcttac aaagttcaag 20 29 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 29 gaccacctca gggtggtctg 20 30 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 30 gttgctgccg gttatagagg 20 31 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 31 tgttgcagaa ctccgccgag 20 32 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 32 gggcccgaga caggacccta 20 33 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 33 gacatagagc ttggctggcc 20 34 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 34 agaacagtgc agagctcatt 20 35 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 35 cattggaggt ggtggcggca 20 36 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 36 tgtgggaggg ttattcccag 20 37 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 37 ctgagaggca gtgttttcag 20 38 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 38 aaacgctgga tctgccgccg 20 39 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 39 cacatagagc gccagcagct 20 40 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 40 ccttttcctg cagccgccgg 20 41 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 41 catccaattc tgagagatcc 20 42 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 42 cctgcaggta tgcggagtct 20 43 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 43 gcttacgctt caaccgtgcc 20 44 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 44 cacatagtcg cccaaagagg 20 45 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 45 tcagtgaaga gcagtctttc 20 46 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 46 gctgctctat gacacggccg 20 47 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 47 cctgttaacc tctgggtagc 20 48 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 48 cttgttgatg agccgctcaa 20 49 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 49 tcagggaagg tatcaggccc 20 50 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 50 acagcccgaa gcacatcccc 20 51 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 51 ggctgtgtcg ggcagctgcc 20 52 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 52 gcatcctgag ccatgagctg 20 53 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 53 taacctgatg cccacatctc 20 54 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 54 gagatcgagg tgacgtcgct 20 55 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 55 tgaggtggca gccaaagttg 20 56 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 56 tcaacgcctg gcctatagtc 20 57 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 57 aacacaggat ctgatagtgc 20 58 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 58 ccggttttcc cgaaggcgcc 20 59 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 59 catccagccg actcatggcc 20 60 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 60 attgcatatt tggagatgac 20 61 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 61 ccctcctcac ttttgtcttg 20 62 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 62 agaggtgcct tggagccgag 20 63 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 63 ccagaatcca aggaggcttc 20 64 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 64 atgccattcc actagggccc 20 65 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 65 tggaggcaga agggcacccc 20 66 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 66 atcgtcttcg tcatctgtct 20 67 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 67 cctcctcttc ctcatcactc 20 68 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 68 cctcctcttc ttcttcctcc 20 69 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 69 ctcttcagaa tctgtggcct 20 70 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 70 tgcatctgtt ccagatcctc 20 71 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 71 tcttcatcat cctcctgacc 20 72 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 72 ttcttcctct tcgtcctcct 20 73 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 73 atctttacct gctgctgctt 20 74 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 74 ggagatctgt agtgaggaca 20 75 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 75 tccaggttct tttcattgga 20 76 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 76 tgctgatctg tttgccaggt 20 77 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 77 gctgctcccc tgaagatctg 20 78 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 78 cactatgcgt cctttgtttt 20 79 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 79 tctgacagta acgatggtga 20 80 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 80 tctccattgc tttcagcatc 20 81 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 81 tcagctcctc aggctgttct 20 82 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 82 gctttcttcc tccagggtca 20 83 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 83 caaagagctg agacacaggg 20 84 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 84 aagcttcaat ctctagctca 20 85 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 85 ggaagaggaa atgtccgtct 20 86 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 86 ggctcctctg attgcttcct 20 87 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 87 ctaagacagt ggtgaagggc 20 88 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 88 catgcctgct ccattctcta 20 89 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 89 aggaagtaga agagaccatg 20 90 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 90 agacgcctcc attgaaggaa 20 91 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 91 tccccagttg tgaggagaga 20 92 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 92 gtttgcttct tctccttccg 20 93 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 93 acctttgcct ttccacatag 20 94 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 94 caccctcgtg gaggaatcag 20 95 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 95 atgcagaggg agctggtcac 20 96 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 96 cttgcaagta ccaggccgag 20 97 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 97 gttcaaattc ccctcagaaa 20 98 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 98 atgctgtcat cggtggccat 20 99 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 99 tcaagtacaa tgatgctgtc 20 100 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 100 ttgagcagca gcttcatctt 20 101 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 101 ccaggtcctg ttgaggcagg 20 102 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 102 agaccagtgg cctgttgaga 20 103 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 103 tactaccgga gttactgctc 20 104 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 104 ctcattatcc aacttgtagc 20 105 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 105 acacagttca aggaactctt 20 106 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 106 ggtggtctga tgtctccgtc 20 107 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 107 ggaggaacgg aaccacctca 20 108 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 108 actgggcacg ctgctgcagt 20 109 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 109 ctgcagaggc cagaaacaca 20 110 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 110 tggagaggat gttgcagaac 20 111 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 111 ttccgagacc gagccagaac 20 112 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 112 cacatagatc ttagcgggcc 20 113 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 113 gtgcagagct cgttaatgta 20 114 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 114 tggagtgagc tttaagaaca 20 115 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 115 aagttcaact tcttcttgat 20 116 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 116 ctggtcgttg aggctgcagg 20 117 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 117 gagggttagg gcccgacgcc 20 118 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 118 gtgttttcag tgtttgtaag 20 119 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 119 gtccttgagg cctcagaggc 20 120 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 120 tggatctgcc tccgggaacc 20 121 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 121 tgccagcagc tgctccaggc 20 122 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 122 gccgaatctc ggctacatac 20 123 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 123 ggtccaactc cttctcctgc 20 124 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 124 tacgaggagt ctgggtcatc 20 125 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 125 tcctcttcaa gcgggcctcc 20 126 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 126 acacaaccgc ccgaagaggc 20 127 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 127 gtcagagaag agcagtcctt 20 128 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 128 tcgctgctct atgacccgcc 20 129 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 129 accgggtgcc tcggtacgga 20 130 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 130 ttcaatgcgc ctgttgacct 20 131 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 131 agccccggct tgttaatgag 20 132 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 132 cggctctcag cacatctcca 20 133 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 133 tgccgggtcg ccgccttctc 20 134 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 134 gtctgggaag gcccaggctg 20 135 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 135 tgagccagga gctgaagctg 20 136 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 136 cccacgtccc ggaaggcatc 20 137 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 137 cgccgctcct gtaacctgac 20 138 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 138 ttgtagatga gatccaggtg 20 139 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 139 tctgtgaggt gacagccaaa 20 140 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 140 caacgcctgg cctatagtca 20 141 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 141 aggcggcgag ccaatgtggg 20 142 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 142 atggccaagg ttcgattttc 20 143 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 143 agatgacctc atccagccgg 20 144 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 144 tcttgcatca ttgcatactt 20 145 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 145 tctcgccctc ctcagtcttg 20 146 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 146 cgggctcgtc tcttctgtct 20 147 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 147 cagattccga ggaggcttgg 20 148 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 148 ccattccgct aggaccctca 20 149 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 149 ggaggtagta gggcactcct 20 150 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 150 catcatcagt ctcagctttg 20 151 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 151 cgtcatcatc gtcatcatcg 20 152 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 152 ctttcctcgt tatcttcgtc 20 153 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 153 ctcctcctcc tcctcctcac 20 154 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 154 agcctctttc tcctcctctt 20 155 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 155 tcatcttcat cttcagtagc 20 156 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 156 tgcaactgtt ctagatcctc 20 157 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 157 ctcctccttc ctcttcttca 20 158 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 158 gactctcatt tccttcatta 20 159 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 159 aaagtctgaa ggcgatgtgg 20 160 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 160 cctgagccct tctgcaggct 20 161 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 161 gtctctgtca gtcctctctt 20 162 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 162 cgtcagtgct gggagggtcc 20 163 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 163 aggagctgct ctccactgct 20 164 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 164 tcgtctccca ggagcggctc 20 165 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 165 gcgagctggg acacaggact 20 166 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 166 aggcaaagct tccatctcta 20 167 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 167 gggaggaaat gtccctttcc 20 168 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 168 aggtaaccac agctgcccca 20 169 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 169 cacgcccatt gacagatgta 20 170 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 170 tctctccaag tgtgagaaga 20 171 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 171 cttcttttcc ttccgaaatc 20 172 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 172 ctaacagtcc agagcccagt 20 173 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 173 gttcttttat atagctgttt 20 174 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 174 ccactgtcct gctgtgccat 20 175 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 175 taggctggac acttgtgttc 20 176 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 176 ggaggaatca gcgacagaag 20 

What is claimed is:
 1. An antisense compound up to 30 nucleobases in length comprising at least an 8-nucleobase portion of SEQ ID NO: 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 98, 99, 101, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 140, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 148, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 159, 160, 161, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175 or 176 which inhibits the expression of daxx.
 2. The antisense compound of claim 1 which is an antisense oligonucleotide.
 3. The antisense compound of claim 2 wherein the antisense oligonucleotide comprises at least one modified internucleoside linkage.
 4. The antisense compound of claim 3 wherein the modified internucleoside linkage is a phosphorothioate linkage.
 5. The antisense compound of claim 2 wherein the antisense oligonucleotide comprises at least one modified sugar moiety.
 6. The antisense compound of claim 5 wherein the modified sugar moiety is a 2′-O-methoxyethyl sugar moiety.
 7. The antisense compound of claim 2 wherein the antisense oligonucleotide comprises at least one modified nucleobase.
 8. The antisense compound of claim 7 wherein the modified nucleobase is a 5-methylcytosine.
 9. The antisense compound of claim 2 wherein the antisense oligonucleotide is a chimeric oligonucleotide.
 10. A method of inhibiting the expression of daxx in cells or tissues comprising contacting said cells or tissues in vitro with the antisense compound of claim 1 so that expression of daxx is inhibited. 